Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1908-06-17
ORGANIZED LABOR
PRESENTS PLANK
Gompers Before Re-
solutions Com
mittee
GIVES FEDERAT|ON's VIEWS
Republican National Con ven.
ton Asked to Pledge Itself
to Certain Laws.

Chicago, June 17.-When the sub
committee of thirteen OF the resolu.
tions committee Of the Republican ma,
tional convention began business at
10 o'clock this morning, the doors OF
their assembly rooms were thrown
open temporarily for the purpose of
granting a twenty minutes hearing to
the representatives of the Al erlcan
Federation Of Labor and those of the
| Illinois Manufacturing Association
/ President Samuel Gompers and Vice
Presidents Keefe and Duncan appear
ed for the American Federation, and
Gompers suggested that the following
plank be inserted in the national plat.
form, saying it contained the Ameri-
can Federation's views:
"The Republican party is in accord
with that great emancipation. Abra
ham Lincoln, when he declared that
labor is prior to and Independent OF
capital, Capital is only tie fruit Of la
Dor al could never have existed II
labor 81 ot existed first. Labor is
the SUI IF capital and deserves
more con- lon. Through his Wise
land humane poiy the shackles were
stricken from 1000 chattel slaves. The
Republican party has been the
staunch defender Of property and pro
|perty rights yet it holds and de-
clares that personal rights and human
liberty must of necessity be entitled
to the first and highest consideration
Recognizing now the conditions aris
ing from our marvellous industrial de-
velopment, our people and our nation
realize the fact that the wheels OF
industry and commerce OF our time re
lquire new laws and new concepts OF
law must be enacted to conform to
the modern industries commerce and
advance of freedom in line herewith
I'VE therefore pledge the Republi
can party to the enactment Of law
lby Congress guaranteeing to wage
|earners, agriculturists and hortlcultur-
lists the right to organized effort to
the end that such associations shall
not be regarded as illegal combina-
|tions in restraint Of trade.
"To the enactment Of law to prohibit
the issue of injunctions in cases aris-
ing out of labor disputes, when such
|injunctions would not apply where no
labor dispute existed and, in no case
shall an injunction be issued when
there exists remedy by ordinary
process of law. And which act shall
provide that in the procedure for pun
ishment Of contempt of court, the par.
|ty cited for contempt shall, when such
)contempt was committed In the actual
presence Of the court be entitled to a
trial by jury.
"To the enactment Of an amend
ment extending the present elght.hour
law to all government employees and
to all workers, whether employed by
contractors or sub-contractors doing
work for the federal government
"To the enactment of law by Con
gress as federal jurisdiction extends
for general employers liability act.
''To the enactment of law to ex-
tend federal Jurisdiction granting
woman's suffrage and for constitu-
tional amendment for absolute suf-
| lfrage for women.
ITO the enactment of law Great
ing department of labor separate
from any existing department with a
secretary at the head who shall have
a cabinet seat.
ITO the enactment of a law for
federal bureau of mines and mining
preferably under the proposed depart
ment of labor and the appropriation
!of sufficient funds to thoroughly In
vestigate the cause Of mine disasters
so law and regulations may be en-
acted to prevent such terrible loss Of
life and manning in mines.
ITO the enactment Of law for the
establishment Of United States postal
national banks"