The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-07-07
ST. PAUL UNIONS ARE
IN POLITICAL CAME
Independent Labor Ticket to Be
But in Field in Capital
City of State.
Sentiment to Work Through Old
Parties Unpopular-Nominat-
ing Convention Called.

St. Paul. July 5.-St. Paul unionists
have taken the preliminary steps for
the organization Of a workingman's
party and will place an independent
ticket in the field at the coming cleo
tion.
G. c.. Collins, who is one Of the
leaders In the movement, is a Arm be-
lever in independent political action.
asserting it is the only method through
which labor unions can get satisfactory
results. At the preliminary meeting
some opposition to an independent
political organization developed, some
advocating working through the older
parties as means Of securing desired
legislation and the election Of candi-
dates favorable to organized labor.
These were overruled, however. Among
those who spoke favoring independent
action were J. J. McHugh, recently
appointed member Of the State Feder-
alton central committee on political
action; c. H. Blye Of the Cigarmakers''
union, John Gieske Of the BARRIERS, A.
II. 1dTuclu OI tue retail CLERKS ana
others.
Favors Old Parties..
T. F. Thomas Of the Typographical
union said he thought it was a waste
Of time to organize an Independent
party, and declared that labor should
strive to obtain control of the old po-
litical parties. This could be done, he
said, because majority of both repub-
licans and democrats in the large cities
were wage earners. He also contended
that an independent movement was not
the American Federation Of Labor or
the State Federation.
It was decided to hold nominating
convention on July 20, when 1t is pro-
posed to place full ticket in the field.
Ration of representation will be ont
for every twenty-five members, but
unions having less membership than
twenty-five are entitled to two dele
gates.
John F. Krieger was selected as
chairman and John l.. Gieske secretary
of the temporary organization.
The preamble cites decisions In the
courts adverse to labor by Judge
Holdom and Judge Humphrey of Chi
F'caso; protests against the treatment
accorded the officers Of the Western
Federation of Miners; favoring the en-
actment Of new laws favorable to the
cause Of the working gman, and express
ing the belief that the conduct Of our
government and the course Of legisla-
ton have emphatically demonstrated
that only those interests that are es-
specially represented can hope to Sc
cure legislation at the hands of law
making bodies, and also that such
legislation can only be had by activity
in political affairs"
Gist Of Platform.
The platform stands for government
ownership;right Of the government to
control and regulate trusts; abolition
Of life tenure of office for judges Of
federal courts; an eight-hour day; lim-
iting the rights Of the courts to issue
injuncticns; extension and strict en-
forcement of child labor and COM
pulsory educational laws; institution Of
system of government savings banks;
enactment of more stringent state and
lishment of an effective system of in
spection which would render evasion
impossible; an employers liability act;
graduated income and Inheritance tax;
Limitation OF large fortunes; initiative
and referendum; abolition of contract
convict labor; enactment Of a law ex-
cluding Chinese. Japanese and other
labor detrimental to the American
workingmen; that all material used In
construction Of state, municipal and
county buildings, SO far as possible,
be grown. quarried and manufactured
| in the state; municipalization of street
railways, gas, electric, telephone and
other utilities; recall by petition of the
majority Of voters Of any and all elect
ed officials who shall prove derelict to
prediction pledges.
The platform committee was made
up as follows: G. C. Collins, ]. M. Nc.
Hugh, A. H. Garfield, c. H. .Blye, and
j. w. Enright, and their report was
| adopted without amendment.