The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-23
Union Men Are Urged 10 Use
the Ballot to Remedy
Their Condition
CONGRESS- HAS NOT MADE
LAWS THEY PROMISED
Long Address Calls On Men to Assert
Themselves and Exercise Full
Rights of Citizenship BY
Use of Ballot.

Washington. July 22.-The executive
council of the American Federation of
Labor today made good its declaration Of
several months ago to enter the field of
politics In the interest of the trade
union movement and to exhort all mem
bers and friends of organized labor to
work for the election to political offices
Of men known to be favorable to labors
cause
From the headquarters of the fedora
ton the council today issued its Cam
paign Programme" addressed ITO All Or
ganized Labor and Friends in the United
States"
1t sets out that trade movement has
kept. and proposes to keep, pace with the
rapid changes in industrial affairs and
that the working people cannot hope to
maintain their rights or a progressive
position in the varying phases of modern
society unless they organize and "exer-
else all those functions, which as work.
men and citizens 1t is their privilege and
their duty to exercise.
Make No Unusual Demands.
1t is declared that labor makes no de-
mand upon government or society which
is not equally accorded to all the people
of this country. and that It can and will
be satisfied with nothing else
The proposed campaign is based upon
allegation that little attention has been
paid to the enactment of laws prepared
by organized labor. and presented to
Congress "for the relief of those wrongs
and the attainment of those rights to
which labor and the common people are
Nd arhF Frh essentially
necessary for their welfare"
The council issues a word of caution
that the movement must not degenerate
into scramble for office, but at should
be a determined effort, free absolutely
from partisanship of every name and
character to secure the legislation we
deem necessary, and which is essential to
the welfare and happiness Of our people"
II is especially stated that where
congressman or state legislator had proven
himself a true friend to the rights of labor
he should be elected, and no candidate
nominated against him.
The flowing is full text Oh the pro-
gramme:
Text of Programme.
.To All Organized Labor and Friends in
the United States:
s'Dear Sirs and Brothers-Events in the
industrial affairs of our people have rapid
1V changed ana are Idplulg AHo
trade union movement, as expressed by
the American Federation of Labor, has
kept and propose to keep pace herewith
1.-THE wheels of industry cannot be halt
ed or turned back, nor should they be,
even II that were possible. Welcoming in
dustrial progress, labor must be ever alert
TO meet new conditions. recognizing that
eternal vigilance is the price of industrial
as we'll as political liberty.
1.-The working people cannot hope to
maintain their rights or progressive
position in the varying phases of modern
society unless they organize and exercise
all those functions which, as workmen and
citizens, 1t Is their privilege and their
duty to exercise.
Labor makes no demand upon govern
rnent or society which is not equally ae-
corded to all the people of our country.
1t can and will be satisfied with nothing
less
''The position of organized labor upon
the question of political action by the
working class their friends and sympa-
thizers has often been declared, but was
more clearly set forth In the following
declaration unanimously adopted by the
Nashville convention of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor in 1897. and often reaf-
hrmed since:
.sResolved. That the American Fedora
tion of Labor most firmly and unequivo-
cally favors the independent use of the
ballot by the trade unionists and work.
men, united regardless of party, that we
may elect men from our own ranks to
make new laws and administer them along
the lines laid down in the legislative de-
mands of the American Federation of
Labor. and at the same time secure an
impartial judiciary that will not govern
us by arbitrary injunctions of the courts,
not act as the plaint tools Of corporate
wealth.
'Resolved, That as our efforts are CEN
tered against all forms of Industrial slav-
cry and economic wrong, must also
direct our utmost energies to remove all
forms of political servitude and party
slavery, to the end that the working peo-
pie may act as unit at the polls at
every election.
Have Been Ever Watchful.
1--WE have been ever watchful to carry
the purposes of that declaration into
effect. At times we met with partial sue
cess. yea within the past few years
claims and promises made in platforms or
on the hustlings by political parties and
politicians, and especially by the present
dominant party, have been neither justi-
Ned nor performed. Little attention has
been paid to the enactment of laws pre-
pared by us and presented TO Congress
for the relief OF those wrongs and the at
tainment of those rights TO which labor
and the common people are justly entitled
and which are essentially necessary for
their welfare
Several Presidents of the United States
have in their messages 10 Congress urged
the passage of equitable legislation in
behalf of the working people. but Congress
has been entirely preoccupied looking af-
ter the interests of vast corporations and
predatory wealth.
''congressmen and senators in their
frenzied rush after the almighty dollar
CONTINUED on Seventh Paae)