The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-08
THE RABBIT BOOK.
American Federation of Labor
Is Compiling Information.
All Legislative and CongressiOn-
al Candidates Interrogated.
QUESTIONS ARE MANY
Those Propounded to Senators
Are Most Difficult.
Touch on Every Feature Of La
Dor Question.
QUESTIONS ARE MANY

Kansas is getting material for a 'rab- |
bit book"
Each candidate for election to the
legislature, on all the tickets, each
candidate for congress and each candi-
date for the United States senate is in
receipt of a list of questions which the
disciples of Samuel Gompers desire to
have answered. Some of these ques-
tions are likely to cause lot of en-
barrassment, because the Gomperites
demand that they be answered either
yes" or no." and have left a space
below each question just big enough
for an answer of that brevity.
1t may appear to the Republican can
didates as rather an unnecessary cere-
mony for the American Federation of
Labor to send out these questions, as
Mr.. Gompers has already declared war
on the Republican ticket. Even though
the Republican candidate answers
right" he is still bearer of the brand
Of undesirability placed there by Mr..
Gompers. In the case of the RepubH-
cans, it is a good deal like getting a
verdict before hearing the evidence.
The hardest questions to answer are
those which are checked up to the can
didates for United States senate and
congress. They refer to decisions OF
the courts on labor lawsuits, and ask
the candidate if he endorses" such de-
cisions. A candidate would have to
take a course in law. or at least read
diligently, and then he might not be
able to give a yes or mo" answer,
as the rules of the game require.
This action is taken in response to
an action of the A. F. of L. convention
held on August 13. The federation Off
Gals announce that they will see to it
that a copy of the answers is placed
in the hands of every laboring man In
the state of Kansas before the next
election.
The objection is being raised to the
legislative questions that they can not
be satisfactorily answered by yes" or
mo" as the federation demands. The
members will naturally want to see
how the bills are drawn before they
pledge themselves on some of these
late to matters of which there has
been no discussion in this state. 9th
ers relate to subjects on which the
state already has a lot of laws, which
so far as known are satisfactory.
In the main the questions are fair
enough, and should be easy for any
candidate to answer without hesitation.
but in some of them a candidate should
be permitted to explain himself more
fully than is permitted by mere yes"
or mo" answer, by which he might
misrepresent his real intentions.
NAOSAAOA@o
The list of questions, which is intend
United States senatorial candidates,
consists of six parts, as follows:
1. Are you in favor of the issuance
of injunctions against the members of
labor unions on account of their refus-
ing to patronize nonunion employers,
or dealers, or for advising their friends
to withhold patronage. or refuse to deal
with such employer or dealer?
2. Do you endorse the decisions of
the courts in the case of the Buck
Stove and Range Co. against the Of
ficers of the American Federation of
Labor?
No. B. If you do not endorse such
decision, will you introduce, If request
ed. and work for a law amending the
present law SO as to make such de-
cisions in the future impossible?
g. Do you concur in the decisions of
the supreme court classifying labor
unions as trusts in restraint of trade,
as was done in the case of Lowe VS..
Lawlor?
SB. If not will you Introduce a bill.
if requested, at the next session of con-
gress and work for its passage ex-
empting labor unions from the opera
lions of the antitrust law as it now
applies?
4. Are you in favor Of the election of
United States senator by direct vote of
the people?
5. Are you in favor of a law which
will make 1t possible to protect work.
ing men against discrimination by an
employer on account of such employ
er's connection with labor union?
6. Will you. if elected, support and
vote for the Wilson bill, the Pearre bill
on injunction, and the liability bill?
Also the 8-hour bill as set forth in Ia
boris protest to congress at its last
session
Questions for Legislative Candidates.
The following is the list of questions
sent to candidates for the Kansas leg
islature:
1. Are you in favor of a general liza
bility bill and will you introduce, If
requested, and work for the passage
of such a law at the next session of
the legislature?
2. Are you in favor of free schoo,