Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-16

The slogan of Samuel Gompers, presi-
dent of the American Federation of La
Dor, and the members of the executive
council of that body-''Vote for your
friends and defeat your enemies"-is be-
ing taken up by labor leaders and labor
organs throughout the United States.
Copies of the recent decision of the
council are being sent out broadcast, and
labor orators are being coached pre-
paratory to sending them out to assist
in the work of electing friends of or
ganized workingmen and downing
their enemies.
Incidentally President Gompers is re-
ceiving many communications from his
lieutenants in the states. Col Wyatt,
general organizer of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, writes from the field
as follows:
From my observations and inquiries
since the action of the democratic con-
vention at Denver, I am strongly inclined
to the opinion that large majority of
loyal trade unionists will support Mr..
Bryan in the coming election. There is
developing an increasing disposition on
the part of the workingmen to disregard
their political friends. This movement is
due largely to the educational work that
has been done through the instrumentality
of the American Federation of Labor and
it's leaders. Each new move has been
most bitterly criticised and often pur-
posely misrepresented by men dominated
almost entirely by selfish motives, but
processing loyalty to the cause. These
men we now find most virulently oppOs-
ing the recommendations recently ema-
mating from the authorized heads of the
labor movement through President Com
pers. A careful analysis of this class. as
represented in the daily press. largely
unfriendly, ignores entirely the fact that
the course pursued which eliminated in
the action of the Denver convention had
of all International trade unions in the
conference held March last in Washing
ton, D. c..
Men who are partisans and more loyal
to political parties than they are to their
unions will naturally oppose the plan pro-
posed by President Gompers and his col
leagues. who have been exercising their
best judgment and discretion to secure
the remedies we have been pleading for
at the hands of certain misrepresenta-
We have been taught to support our ac-
credited representatives when a thor
oughly discussed and approved policy
has been decided on in our trade
unions. For some time past it has
been that fixed policy which has pushed
standard of efficiency and protection. Be
cause of the adverse criticism and the
alarm plainly indicated by political lead
ers. ofiiceholders and capitalists and a
venal press, shall We cease our legitimate
efforts to secure the laws we have been
advocating for years as we'll as a correc-
ton of certain judicial abuses?
Every influence at our command as
trade unionists was used 10 induce the
republican leaders in the last Congress to
amend the Sherman antitrust law, pass
the anti-injunction bill and extend the
provisions of the eight-hour law and
properly protect the lives and limbs Of
railroad and government employees. Had
these small concessions been made, the
fight. that Is now on would have been
avoided. We were sneeringly refused and
told that the controlling party would as
sumo responsibility for such action. That
party has discovered now a most seri-
Gus blunder was then made, little dream
ing the demands then refused would be
carried to the Chicago convention. Under
threat by certain interests Of withholding
large political contributions. labors de-
mands were ignored and notice was serv-
ed that nothing could be expected from
the republican party in the future. The
door of hope was closed in our face and
we We're told to go and do our worst.
''The story of how our representatives
were received by the democrats at Dem
yer is also history. Would 1t be too great
sacrifice on our part to take chance,
in the hope that the promise given at
Denver was made in good faith? II ever
we secure our industrial independence, it