The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1906-11-22
LABOR IN POLITICS.

Organized labor is a great deal
wiser than some of our Democratic
friends give it credit of being. For
instance, in the recent election in
this state, the Democratic leaders got
the idea. but how and why no one
knows, not even themselves. that or
gained labor would vote the Demo-
cratic ticket. They evidently con-
cluded that. because Samuel Com
pers, the head OF the Federation OF
Labor, set out to defeat Republican
candidate or two on some misappre-
hension or misunderstanding of
their attitude toward labor, or
genized labor in This state
would be foolish enough to fol-
low suit. Those leaders overlook
ed the fact that the Republican poll
cies in this state as well as the ma
ton have ever been in the interest of
the toiler.
The Wheeling Register claimed to
know that organized labor and the
workingman in general would vote
against the Republican nominees. It
was most remarkable discovery, all
things and the facts considered, but
the suddenness with which it was
made caused other Democratic pa
pers to ape the Register for all there
was in it. Even the Democratic
committees and candidates got busy
at once, and as the result placards
were distributed against the Repub-
lean candidates. Even some of the
distributing agencies were betrayers
Of organized labor, those who took
money from both sides during
threatened strikes and revealed the
secrets Of union labor. These pla-
cards and newspaper attacks, made
while honest men and candidates
slept. we're personal'in their attacks.
It seems to be men and not meas
ures these midnight assassins were
after. They overlooked the fact
that the American people care but
little for men and everything for
measures. Even the best man may
represent the worst measures. In
the recent campaign, however, the
workingman appreciated the fact
that the Republican nominees we're
rot only good men but were also rep
resentatives of good measures. And
thus did he, except where misinform-
ed and misguided. give his support to
these nominees and measures they
stand for.
Since the election there have been
many Heterogeneous on the part OF
Democratic papers to labor entering
the field of politics, sample of
which We quote from the Wheeling
Register as follows:
TT appears that President Com
oers Is determined to continue the
activity of organized labor in poll
tics There was not much encour-
agement in the late election. for two
reasons:-frst, because union labor
* distnelined to vote as a unit, and
second, because the activity of or
sanized labor in politics acts as a
double-edged sword. These facts
must be admitted by labor leaders,
no matter how much they may de-
DIore them. Proof is furnished from
every place in which organized lobar
was active in the recent campaign.
"In Ohio county hundreds of IN
ION men voted straight party tickets.
ignoring the labor endorsement of
candidates on other tickets. And
While many voted for all the candi-
didate approved by the Trades AS
sembly, It Is only necessary to call
attention TO the scratching of labor
candidates in certain districts to
prove that many citizens voted
against them solely because of the
endorsement Of unionism.
..If Mr.. Gompers and other lead
crs want to make trades unionism a
factor in politics, they viii first have