Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-07-26
lures for all our people without an OBJ
noxious provision to anyone.

lures for all our people without an OBJ
noxious provision to anyone.
Ceases to be Virtue.
Patience ceased to be virtue, and
on March 81, 1906, the representatives
of labor presented bill of grievances
to the President and those responsible
| for legislation or the failure Of legisla-
| ton in congress, reciting the failure or
refusal of the party in power to adopt
or enforce legislation in 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 has not been grant
ed Congress has turned deaf ear to
and, true to our declaration, we now
appeal to the working people. aye, to
all the American people unitedly to
demonstrate their determination that
this republic of ours shall continue to
| NC Ol, lOl anu ny Lie pSOplS,. ldIlISl
than of, for and by the almighty dol
lar.
The toiling masses of our country
are as much. if not more, interested
in good government than our fellow-cit-
liens in other walks of life. In line
with the contention herein stated. the
American Federation of Labor made
it's declaration of political policy as al
ready above quoted And in line there
with 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 in
terests of the people, so that men more
honest, faithful and progressive may
be elected as the peoples representa-
tives.
Il 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 ex-
posures of the corruption and graft in
high circles. The great insurance COM
panies, the trusts, the corporations, the
so-called captains Of industry, have in
deed become the owners of the legisla-
tors of our country. Public officials,
many of whom have the cry of stop
thief" nearest the tip Of their tongue,
have been elected through these very
agencies and the contributions from
them.
If 1t has come to a condition in this,
the greatest and wealthiest nation on
earth, that the almighty dollar is to be
| worshipped 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
t and to invite all reform forces to join
: with it in RELOCATING Indifference to
the peoples interest, corruption and
, graft to political oblivion; to raise the
standard of legislation by the election
Of sincere progressive and honest men
who, while worshipping money less
: will honor conscience, justice and
: humanity more.
3 Plan of Campaign.
We recommend that central bodies
!, and local unions proceed without de
: lay by the election of delegates tc
meet in conference, or convention, tt
:
: of this movement, and in accordance
I, with the plan herein outlined at the
! proper time and in the proper manner
nominate candidates who will unques
tionably stand for the enactment into
law of labor and progressive measures
The first concern of all should be
the positive defeat of those who have
= been hostile or Indifferent to the jus
l. I%,,o ,,,1e 80 1nJ A CT ryiy, hub
: to them will benefit not only the toll
: ers but the people of the entire
country.
Wherever both parties ignore labor!
legislative demands straight labol
candidate should be nominated, 81
/ that honest men may have the op
: portunity in exercising their franchise
: to vate according to their conscience
u istead Of being compelled either t.
: refrain from voting or to vote for thu
: candidate and the party they must il
. their innermost souls despise.
!, Where congressman or state legis
q lator has proven himself true frient
y to the rights of labor he should b.
Q supported and no candidate nominatet
/ against him.
r This movement must not degenerat,
l. into scramble for office. 1t should b.
$ a determined effort, free, absolutel.
from partisanship of every name AM
d character, to secure the legislation w
/ deem necessary and essential to tn
e welfare and happiness of all our pee
g pie. At the present objects Of thi
y movement are purely in the line o
S legislation, all efforts should be cor
y centrated upon the election of mem
bers of congress and the various stat
r legislatures.
/ To make this our movement, the mos
o effective and utmost care should b
o taken to nominate only such uniol
J. men whose known intelligence
5, honesty and faithfulness are conspicr
|, Gus. They should be nominated a
4 Lstraight labor representatives an