The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-12
Reported that Call Extends
Across the Boundary,
Into Canada.
Dollar Contribution Plan
Not a SuCCesS...Gloom
at Headquarters.
BY w. W. Jermano.

AYEW YORK, Aug. Ills the
III American Federation Of Labor
to have a larger campaign fund
this fall than either, or both, Of the
regular political parties7 And if it is,
what will be the result on election
days
The managers of the republican con-
gressional committee, at headquarters
In this city, would give a good deal
to know the answer to these questions
So would the democrats, but as the
managers of the latter are chronicany
hard pressed financially, their anxiety
is considerably less marked than that
of the hitherto heavily financed repub-
icans.
A published statement has recently
come from Toronto to the effect that
the American Federation of Labor, with
which all Canadian labor unions are
affiliated, has directed those unions to
collect IS each from their members to
help swell the campaign fund in the
United States. The statement added
that Canadian laborers were rather I'M
willing to submit to such an assess
ment, but weren't quite sure that they
could escape it. -
Republican managers here have been
Informed that it was the intention Of
the officers of the American fedora
ton to levy an assessment upon all
members in good standing in this coun-
try, but it was news to them that the
federation purposed carving the hunt
for funds across the international boun-
dairy. These republican managers also
incline to question whether the levy, if
made, will be as much as S. per man
for they say. that any figure as large
as this would give the federation a
campaign fund running far into the
millions Of dollars.
Sure to Have Big Fund.
Even at 81 each, such an assessment
would represent several millions of
dollars. At half dollar each it would
amount to more than Il million. and
as it is the intention Of the federation
70 confine its activities to some two
or three dozen districts out of the
nearl y 400 in the country, it is believed
That any sum, represented by a dollar
assessment, or more, would not be
needed.
SO the republican campaign man.
ayers, while watching the financing of
the labor campaign with interest. are
not prepared to believe that any assess.
ment that may be made will amount
to more than SO cents to 81 member
the country over. But even such sum
will be many times larger than any
that either the republicans or the dem
0crats can command.
For the first time in it's recent history
the republican party is this year hare
up. It now knows how the Democrat,
party has been feeling since the first
Bryan campaign. Each party is thu,
prepared to sympathize with the other
Both will keep track Of the labor cam
paign. Should labor have anywhere
near million dollars this year for cam
palgn purposes, and concentrate that
amount in two or three dozen districts
some folks may have lots of trouble.
These folks are all republican, 70,
the democrats during the last session
OF congress, almost to a man, managed
to get on the good side of the labor
lobby. Among those marked for the
slaughter, in addition to Littlefeld 81
Maine and Speaker Cannon, are thu
three republicans from the Pittsburs
section Of Pennsylvania, with John Dal
zell at their head, Chairman Payne oil
the ways and means committee, anc
others Of the leading republicans O,
the house. ..- 30.
Small Republican Majority.
1t is conceded that the republican:
at the best will control the next con
gress by margin very MATERIAL,
shsaller than that by which they ar,
now in control. Even the party leader,
are not figuring on majority of more
than about fifty, while the more con
sentative say they will be satisfied i
Continued on Sd Page, 4th Column.