The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-09-16
His Effort to "Throw" the Trade
Union Vote to Bryan Doing
Infinite Harm.
THAT BUSINESS CONFERENCE.
Tho Labor Press and Leaders of
Country Unnask President of the
Federation as a Democrat and a
Free Trader Fighting to De-
feat the Best Friends of
the Nottingham.

the WOfklngmau.
1t will be exceedingly interesting to
wage workers and the public i'll
general to know how strongly the po-
litical course of President Gompers.
of the American Federation of Labor,
is being opposed by the labor press
and trade union leaders of the coun-
try. Since the fact has become known
that President Gompers has had Il
real business conference with Mn
Mack, manager OF the Bryan cam
raign, the opposition of organized
labor to President Gcmpers' effort to
throw the trade union vote over TO
Bryan is still ali the stronger. There
no longer remains amy doubt that
the Democratic party to try to force
the labor vote to Bryan, and that de-
spite the fact that he, Gompers, is at
the head of Il trade union organiza
ton of Il non-politicil nature, he is,
| as an official of that trade union, using
his time, paid for by the union.
and the union machinery in further
ing the success of Il partisan political
| party. In doing this he is going con-
| trary to all precedent, either in this
country or in England. He is n Dem
| ocrat and n free trader and as such
has put himself on record as fighting
| to defeat the best friends American
labor ever had in the history of tine
| Nation.
While many of the labor papers re-
main non-commital on the question.
most Of the important ones oppose
the policy of President Gompers. OF
course the out and out Democratic
papers will lean toward Bryan.
The Toledo Union Leader mas
strongly opposed the Gompers slogan
to reward your friends and punish
your enemies" 1t declares that the
policy is ineffective and is likely to do
more damage to the unions than
good. The Leader has consistently
stood for direct action through Il
Labor party or the Socialist party and
is at present delivering hammer blows
for the legislative ticket of the Social
lst party, which was endorsed by ref
erendum vote of the local unions
The Akron People rips the anti
| injunction pretenses of the Democratic
party into tatters, and points out tn
Gompers the utter absurdity of plac-
ing amy reliance in party that de-
clares in favor of restricting injunc-
lions i'll one plank and follows it up
With declaration that 1T is the func-
ton of the courts to interpret the laws
| which the people create"
The GAINESVILLE Labor Journal con-
cludes that labor is confronted by far
greater questions than injunctions.
and that the labor vote has never been
delivered or deliverable by any man OF
set OF men,"
The Brewers Journal, of Cincinnati
ridicules the growing tameness OF
Bryan, declaring that he is no moro
feared, and calls upon the working
people to stand by workingmen in the
coming election, something Gompers
will not do.
The Switchmen's Journal, printed a;
Buffalo, opposes Gompers.
The Bakers Journal, published in
Chicago, i'll behalf of its readers ZEN
phatically protests against having our
International organization cassed witt
those who work and vote for tne sue
cess of the Democratic ticket"
The Stove Mounters' Journal, of De
triot, dismisses the subject with the
conclusions: These are the times thu
workingmen find themselves close t.
the hearts of the Republican ano
Democratic parties After election
tneir usual position will be assumed
again.
The Pueblo (Colo) Union Labe
Bulletin remarks that BRO. Gompers
expresses himself as highly pleased
with the Democratic labor program
but from this distance we fail to see
anything to get particularly enthusi
astic about. We are presented with
the same old Alternative of choosing
VIC iSSoSl VI Two cSilS, With ullxuIS
little choice in the matter
The Piano and Organ Workers
Official Journal, printed in Chicago
edited by Secretary Dold, formerly
President of the Chicago Federation OF
Labor. says in part, speaking OF
Gompers' action urging union people
to support Bryan and the Democratic
party:
las an excuse for his unusual, un-
constitutional and heretofore unheart!
of procedure he offers the labor plant,
recently adopted by the Democrats at
tneir Denver convention.
I'VE deem it to be our duty to enter
IL most emphatic protest against this,
Il most wanton disregard for we'll
established trades union law and eth
| les.
The constitution of the A. II. of l.,
forbids participation in party politics.
president Gompers must and does