The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-29
|( )Il(5A FED I.
|zstII11fI NJ LABOR

the relief which labor has sought, 1t Is seriously
threatened with statutory authority for existing
judicial .usurpation.
1.-THE committee on labor Of the house Of
representatives instituted at the demand
of labor to voice its sentiments, to advocate it's
rights, and to protect its interests. In the last
two congresses this committee has been SO 4or-
ganized to make Intellectual any attempt
labor has made for redress This being the
fact in the last congresses labor requested the
speaker to appoint. on the committee on labor
members who from their experience knowledge
and sympathy, would render in this congress
such service as the committee was originally
designed to perform. Not only was labor's re-
quest ignored, but the hostile makeup of the
committee was accentuated.
b Recently the president issued order for
bidding any and all government employees, upon
the pain of instant dismissal from government
service, to petition congress for any redress
|of grievances or for any Improvement in their
condition Thus the constitutional right of
citizens to petition must be surrendered by the
government employee in order that he may OBJ
tain Or retain his employment"
we present these grievances to your atten-
ton because we have long. patiently, land in
vain waited for redress. There is not any mat
ter of which we have complained but for which
we have, in an honorable and lawful manner
submitted remedies. The remedies for these
grievances proposed BY labor are in line with
fundamental law, and with the progress and
development made necessary by changed indus,
trial conditions. &g..: SS%5
Labor brings these its grievances to your a t.
tention because you the representatives re-
sponsible for legislation and for failure of
legislation. The tOilers come to you as your
fellow citizens who, by reason of their position
in life, have not only with all other citizens an
lsequal interest in our country, but the further
interest of being the burden-bearers. the wage
earners of America. AS labor's representative
we ask you to redress these grievances, for it
Is in your power to do So Z,
Labor now appeals to you, and we trust that
1t may not be in vain. But If perchance you
may not heed US. we shall appeal to the con.
science and the support of our fellow citizens.
Very respectfully Samuel Gompers, James Dun
can. James O. Cornell, Max Norris D. "a. Hayes,
Daniel ]. Keefe, William D. Huber, Joseph F.
Valentine, John B. Lennon, Frank Morrison,
Executive Council. American Federation OF
| Labor. &. F s. saas%S5Al
| A. F. Of Political Policy.
The political policy of the American
| Federation Of Labor is summed up as
| follows: -
| THAT our efforts are centered against all
I forms of industrial slavery and economic wrong
we must also direct utmost energies to re-
move all forms of political servitude and party
| slavery to the end that the working people
may act as unit at the polls of every cleo
tion.-
THAT the American Federation of Labor mos
firmly and unequivocally favors the Independent
use of the ballot by the trade unionists an(
workingmen, united regardless Of party. that we
may elect men from our own ranks to make new
laws and administer them along the lines lait
down in the legislative demands of the American
Federation of Labor and at the same time
secure an impartial judiciary that will moi
govern us by arbitrary injunction of the courts
nor act as the plan tools of corporate, wealth.,