Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-10-26
ORGANIZED IfB0a's
Political COUP
FEDERATION or Ia.
OR PLANNING A CAMPAIGN.
TRADES UNIONS VOTES TO BE
CAST FOR DEMOCRATIC PAR
TY.

TI.
Washington. ID. G., Oct. 26.-There
are signs that. Mr.. Samuel Gompers
and Mr.. Frank Morrison. the for
mer president OF the American Fell
Grafton OF Labor and the latter sec
rotary of the same aggregation OF
labor organizations. are planning
grand coup in the presidential
ampaign OF 1908.
Many moves on the ohess-bcard Of
labor politics. many statements ut
tCrei by labor leaders. and many
dark hints anu threats made in and
out OF the secret sessions Of lodges
and committees. indicate that Mr..
Gompers and Mr. Morrison will next
year endeavor 20 make a cherished
dream reality by striving to swim g
the entire trades union vote OF the
United States against the Republi-
can party and the principle of pro-
lection.
This would be only one step ia
advance OF that taken by Mr.. Comp
ers and Mr. Morrison In 1906. Then
they endeavored to defeat almost
the entire Republican membership OF
the house of representatives. They
tried to align organized labor on
: the side OF William r. Hearst al
the meeting OF the New York FEEDER
alton OF Labor. held at Binghampton
in September, when efforts were made
to have that body endorse Mr..
Hearst for the Democratic nomina-
ton. Later they drew their infu-
ence for Mr.. Hearst and against
Gov. Hughes. How these schemes
failed no work is a matter of po-
litical history, but II Mr.. Gompers
and Mr.. Morrison had succeeded in
their efforts. Mr.. Hearst would have
been elected governor OF New York,
and would now, perhaps, be having
clear field for the Democrats nom-
ination for president.
But 1t is with the efforts OF these
great labor masters in national pol
tides that the general interest OF the
country is more concerned. That
they are planning an effort to mus
ter labor as an adjunct OF the Dem
ocratic machine next year is a very
deep impression here. Mr.. Cor
pers has threatened 1t many times.
he Is infatuated with the success his
Fellow countrymen OF England have
had In running trades union candi-
dates for the house OF commons. UNI
I'll they have. at times swung Ahe bal
ance Of power between the two great
parties of England, by the sheer
number of labor votes. 1t was the
burden of all the remarks OF la
Dor representatives at the hearings
arranged in behalf of the bills in
PRODUCED in the last congress pro-
viding for the publicity OF all cam
paign contributions At that time
labor leaders said that they had
come TO the conclusion that they
must take ~''ai as an organization,
and throw lhor solid vote to the
party thai 3l do as they wanted.
Among i-stiCrs on which they
want legisl Ion are the boycott. the
eight-hour .ay and the Injunction.
They desile egi lation that will le-
galize the hpyc ct, and an endorse
ment OF th viii be one OF the
things which they will insist upon
as prC uisite of giving support
to eithe ra - The Democratic par
ty will 20 doubt promise TO support
a bill Calling the boycott. The
Republi 81 party. which regards the
rights o. property as something also
to be &C ijered. is not likely 10 do
the SAL Q. The Democratic panty
will Pre- Mise TO support Il measure
TO prov. that no injunction shall
be Issue against a labor organiza-
ton until there has been a hearing
before a jury, II has gone even
farther than that in times past. The
Republican party will not make any
such pledge in its platform, in all
probability and on that the issue
Will be Joined. as It in faot is Joined
now. The labor unions viii want
Legislation In establishing the eight
hour day TO go farther than the pres
ent laws, and indeed, the Democrat
ic party is pledged to going just as
far as the unions want There Is
sure TO be some restrictions in the
utterances OF the Republican plat
form although Senator Beveridge has
recently. against his convictions. or
at least in spite of his misgiviRgs, de-
olsred in favor of Che day Of eight
hours.
The labor leaders were rever so
aggressive as now r. may be that
they realize that tho time has now
come TO make one grand rally ant
hazard the future on one cast Of The
dice. IL can he noticed In the threat
on the pant OF the allied union
against Mr.. -Stilings. tho public
printer, because undor the law he
maintains the open shop with good
printing office" n can be heard IN
the attacks which arc made on Mr.
Strauss. the secretary Of Commerce