The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-10-29
ORGANIZED LABOR
SUPPORTS TAFT,
Majority OF tho Real Leaders and
Workers Will Vote for Their
Real Friends.
No Longer Any Doubt But That Taft
Will &c: tho Majority of Labor
Votes Despite the Inscriptions
Fight Made by Gonpers in Behalf
of tho Democratic Bosses.

Leaders Of organized labor are. Op-
posed to Samuel Gompers in his efforts
to deliver the labor vote to Bryan, ,and
there is every indication that Taft will
get the votes of most labOring men. AT
least three of the most influential vice
presidents OF the American Federation
of Labor evidently disagree with Com
pers.
One of the men who called on Presi-
dent Roosevelt recently gave assurance
that John Mitchell is not for Bryan, as
intimated in a telegram alleged to be
from him published in the last two
days. He declared on authority, said
to be that of Mr. Mitchell himself, that
the noted labor leader did not write
any telegram putting himself In the
Bryan column. The telegram is said
to be fabrication.
James Duncan, first vice-president of
the American Federation Of Labor next
in authority to Gompers and man OF
great influence in the organization, has
written a letter to Willis Moore, chief
of the weather bureau, pointedly an
tagonizing the attitude Of Mr.. Gompers
and asserting that each individual
should be allowed to vote without pres
sure from any one.
Daniel Keefe, sixth vice-president of
| the federation and president of the
Longshoremen's union, is out for Taft
and working hard for him. Keefe adj
vises labor people to vote for Taft. Thus
| three of the six vice-presdents under
Mr.. Gompers are either supporting
Taft or are opposing any plan that Will
place the organization as body against
the Republican nominee. Mr.. Keefe
said recently:
president by the executive council OF
| the American Federation of Labor
| Neither has any one the right to criti-
else a union man for voting for any
other candidate for president. In fact
| will vote for Taft"
Taft's True Attitude Understood.
The Labor World of Pittsburg says
every day it is becoming more and
more apparent that the more the labor
record of Judge Taft is discussed the
more does the fact shine forth that he
is a real friend of labor. The truth
has always been recognized by the in
teligent and fair-minded trade union
leaders and officials. many OF whom
have the courage to stand boldly out
and declare themselves to this effect
DESPITE the fact that undue pressure is
being exercised to subdue such decara-
tion."
The United Mine Workers Of Amer
| lea. the strongest organization numer-
| icalIy in the country, will not be bound
| by the political program of the Amer
| lean Federation of Labor, to support
| Bryan and the Democratic platform.
In an official circular issued by T. i.
Lewis, international president of the
| union, to the 100000 members, he says
| the membership has intelligence enough
| to know how to vote without any adj
| vice from him and he will do nothing
| to influence their political preferences
| In any way.
| "Public Beggar" story Confirmed.
A campaign sensation was sprung at
| Wheeling, West Virginia, at a Repub-
| land of pittsburg, former president Of
| the Anal gamated Association, declared
| he was present when William Jennings
| Bryan stigmatized union labor leaders
as 'beggars" and labor unions as ''nuis-
ances" in 1893. when the Ways and
| Means Committee Of the National
| House of Representatives was consid-
ering the original Wilson tariff bill.
William r. Farley, Of Alabama. for
| the last ten years a member of the ex.
ecutive board Of the United Mine Work
| ers, has come out with the statement
| that it was the duty Of laboring men
| to vote for Taft and Sherman. His
stand is d practical reputation of the
leadership of Samuel Gompers and adj
| ditiOnal evidence that the attempt Of
| Gompers to deliver" the labor vote to
| Bryan is a dismal failure.
Among the well-known trade union
| lists of Pennsylvania is George w
Boyd of the Structural Ironworkers'
| Union. He is fearless in the declara
| ton Of his opinion and is always guild
| ed by what he absolutely believes to be
| the truth. He is a believer in w. III.
| Taft as friend of labor
Prominent Chicagoan Defes Compers
In the Piano, Organ and Musical In
strument Workers Official Journal
| Charles Dold, the editor, who was for
merly president Of the Chicago Fedora
| ton of Labor, bitterly assails Samuel
| Gompers for his effort to deliver the
union labor vote in this campaign. He
criticizes in particular a circular issued
| by the executive council of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor, asking the
wage-earners to contribute to the Dem
ocratic campaign fund. Two quotations
from the editorial are sufficient to show
what is thought Of Gompers' effort:
"We have searched diligently for