The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-07-23

Resolved, That the American Fed
Grafton of Labor most firmly and une
quivocally favors the independent us'
| OF the ballot by the trade unionist.
and workmen, united regardless of par
| ty that we may elect men from our owl
ranks to make new laws and administe
| them along the lines laid down in tn,
legislative demands of the American
Federation of Labor, and at the same
time secure an impartial judiciary tina
will not govern US by arbitrary injunc
tiOns of the courts, nor act as the phi
ant tool of corporate wealth.
Resolved, That as our efforts arr
| centered against all forms of Industrial
| slavery and economic wrong, we mus
also direct our utmost energies to re
move all forms of political servitud,
and party slavery, TO the end that tn,
working people may act as unit a
the polls at every election
| We have been ever watchful to car
| ry the purposes of that declaration int
effect At times we met with .partia
success, yet, within the past few year.
| claims and promises made in platform.
or on the hustings by political parties
and politicians, and especially by tn,
present dominant party, have beer
neither justified nor performed. Littl,
attention has been paid to the enact
ment of laws prepared by us and pre-
sented to congress for the relief of those
wrongs and the attainment of thos,
rights to which labor and the common
people are justly entitled and which
are essentially necessary for their vel
/ fare.
Congress Is Careless.
Several presidents of the United
States have, in their messages to con.
gress. urged the passage of equitabl,
legislation in behalf of the working peo
pie, but congress has been entirely pre-
occupied looking after the interests Of
vast corporations and predatory wealth
congressman and senators in theil
frenzied rush after the almighty dollar
have been Indifferent or hostile to the
rights of man. They have had no time
and as little inclination to support thu
reasonable labor measures, the enact
ment OF which we have urged, anc
which contained beneficent features fol-
all our people without an obnoxious
provision to any one.
Patience ceased to be a virtue, and or
March p, 1906, the representatives OF
labor presented a bill of grievances tC
the president and those responsible fol
legislation or the failure of Legislation
in congress, reciting the failure or re-
fusal of the party in power to adopt
or enforce legislation I'm the interests
of the tOiling millions of our country
After setting forth labor's grievances
and requests and urging early action
we closed that now famous document
with this statement:
But if perchance you may not heed
us, we shall appeal to the conscience
and support of our fellow citizens"
The relief asked for has not been
granted. Congress has turned a deaf
ear TO the voices of the masses of our
people: and, true to our declaration, we
now appeal to the working people, aye,
to ali the American people unitedly, to
demonstrate. their determination so that
this republic of ours shall continue to
be of, for and by the people, rather than
Of for and by the almighty dollar.
Apathy of Party in Power.
The toiling masses of our country are
as much, if not more, interested in good
government than our fellow citizens in
other walks of life. In line with the
contention herein stated. the American
Federation of Labor made its declara-
ton of political policy as already quot
ed above. And in line Herewith we
hope, and have the right to expect, to
arouse the citizenship of our common
country interested in good government
TO the apathy or hostility of the party
in power TO the real interests of the
people, so that men more honest, faith
full and progressive may be elected as
the peoples representatives.
Attention is called not only to con-
gressiOnal and legislative indifference
and hostility to the interests of labor.
but also to the interests of the large
mass of all our people. The press for
months has been burdened with expos
uTes of the corruption and graft in high
circles. The great insurance compa-
MES, the trusts, the corporations, the
so-called captains of industry, have in
deed become the owners of the legis-
lators of our country. Public officials,
many of whom have the cry of stop
thieft' nearest the tip of the tongue,
have been elected through these very
agencies and the contributions from
them.
If it has come to a condition in this,
the greatest and wealthiest nation on
earth. that the almighty dollar is TO be
worshiped to an extent of forgetting
principle, conscience, uprightness and
justice, the time has arrived for labor
and its friends TO raise their voices in
condemnation of such degeneracy, and
to invite all reform forces to join with it
in RELOCATING indifference to the pe0-
pies interests, corruption and graft TO
political oblivion; to raise the standard
of legislation by the election of sin
cere, progressive and honest men who.
while worshiping money less. will hon
or conscience, justice and humanity
more.
Convention to Be Held.
We recommend that central bodies
and local unions proceed without de-
lay by the election of delegates to meet
in conference, or convention, to formu-
late plans TO further the interests of
this movement, and in accordance with
the plan herein outlined at the proper
time and i'm the proper manner nomi-
nate candidates who will unquestionah bly,
stand for the enactment into law of
la Dor and progressive measures.
The first concern of all should be the
positive defeat of those who have been
hostile or indifferent to the Just de-
nands of labor. A singing rebuke to
them will benefit not only the toileIs
but the people of the entire country.
Wherever both parties ignore labors
demands a straight labor
candidate should be nominated, so that
honest men may have the opportunity
in exercising their franchise to vote
according to their conscience instead
Of being compelled either to refrain
from voting or to vote for the candi-
Ia ta and tba marty they must in their