Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-07-23

ear o the voices OF the IldSSeS VI WV
| people; 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
be of, for, and by the people. rather
than of, for, and by the almighty dollar.
The toiling masses our our country
are as much. if not more. interested III
good government than our felloW-rltl-
zens 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 quoted above. And in line there
with we hope, and have the right to ex-
poet. 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
I terests of the people, so that men more
honest, faithful. and progressive may
be elected as the peoples representa-
tives
Attention is called notN 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
ures of the corruption and graft In high
circles. The great insurance COM
pani.s. 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 the tongue,
have been elected thru these very
agencies and the contributions from
then.
Crusade on Graft.
FIT has come to condition in this,
the greatest and wealthiest nation on
EARTH that the almighty dollar is to
Ibe worshiped to an extent of forgetting
principle, conscience, uprightness, and
justice, the time has arrived for labor
and it's 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
peoples interests, corruption and graft
to political oblivion; to raise the STAN
dard of legislation by the election OF
sincere, progressive, the honest men
who while worshiping money less, will
honor conscience, justice and humans
ity more.
We recommend that central bodies
and local unions proceed without delay
by the election Of delegates to meet in
conference or convention, to formulate
plans to further the interests of this
movement, and in accordance with the
plan herein outlined at the proper
time and in the proper manner NOM
Ia. tan
ably 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 just
demands of labor. A singing rebuke
to them will benefit not only the toll
ers but the people of the entire coun-
try.
Wherever both parties ignore labor's
legislative demands a straight labor
candidate should be nominated. so
that honest men may have the oppor-
tunity in exercising their franchise to
vote according to their conscience in
stead of being compelled either to re-
frain from voting or to vote for the
candidate and the party they must in
their innermost souls despise.
Where congressman or state legis-
lator has proven himself a true friend
to the rights of labor he should be
supported and no candidate nominated
against him.
This movement must not degener-
ate into a scramble for office. 1t should
be a determined effort free, absolutely.
from partisanship of every name and
character, to secure the legislation we
deem necessary and essential to the
welfare and happiness of all our peo-
pie. AS the present objects of this
movement are purely in the line of
legislation all efforts should be con-
centrated upon the election of mem
bers of congress and the various state
legislatures.
Nominate Good Men.
To make this-our movement - the
most effective the utmost care should
be taken to nominate only such union
men whose known intelligence, hon
esty and faithfuless are conspicuous.
They should be nominated as straight
labor representatives and stand and
be supported as such union men and
their friends and synpathizers, ire
spective of previous political affilia-
ton.
Wherever it is apparent that an en-
tirely independent labor candidate can
mot be elected, efforts should be made
to secure such support by Endorsement
Of candidates by the minority party in
the districts and by such other pro-
gressive elements as will insure the
election of labor representatives.
All observers agree that the cam
paign of our fellow workmen OF Great
Britain has had a wholesome erect
upon the government, as well as the
interests Of its wage earners, and the
peopIe generally of that country. In
the last British elections fifty-four
trade unionists were elected to parlla-
ment. If the British workmen with
their limited franchise, accomplished
so much by their united action, what
may we in the United States not do
with universal suffrage?
In order to systematically carry out
the policy and work necessary to tnls
campaign, the executive council OF the
American Federation of Labor has Sc
lected the following members as the
labor representation committee
Samuel Gompers, James O'Connell, and
Frank Morrison.
Those earnestly engaged in our
movement must, we repeat, be guided
by the fact that the principles for
which we stand must be Of primary
consideration, and office, secondary.
We ask our fellow-workers and friends
to respond to this call and to make