River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-09-17

Democratic parties have in times past
not hesitated to crush the hopes and
aspirations of the wage workers with
an iron heel whenever and wherever 1t
suited their purpose to do so.
"And this in lieu of a PROMISE
chimericai or ut best questionable anti
injunction plank.
"Ante-election promises have ever
been looked upon with scorn by labor
leaders-until now.
I'VE believe in political action Of
the wage workers; we believe it to be
their only salvation.
I'VE do not believe in the kind Of
politics that will boost party or par
ties to which we are indebted for all
of labors ills, no matter what prom
ises' may be made.
1.-The fifty, hundred or more years
of experience had by organized labor
should preclude the possibility of
turning the workers economic move
ment into an adjunct of political party
cOrruptioniStS.
1--WE believe in the ballot; we long
for the day when labor will become
political unit.
1--WE long for party of, for and by
the wage worker.
let it be said that President Comp
ers meant well--but he erred
Regarding Bryan and his speech OF
acceptance the views of the following
prominent trade union leaders will be
interested:
J. r. Pritchard, general secretary
of the International PAYERS and Ram
mers' Union, said
II consider Bryans letter the weak
est document of its kind ever written.
1t is nonsense to assert that the Re-
publican party is responsible for the
business depression. Under the Re-
publican administration the people
had seven years of prosperity. Tho
depression was due to natural causes,
and politics had nothing to do with it.
If Bryan is elected there will be a
worse depression.
"The Knights of Labor went to
pieces when they went into politics,
and like fate will befall the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor unless it re-
fuses to support the Democratic party.
A labor union is an Industrial institu-
ton and should steer clear of poll
tics"
Edward Hourigan, of District No. Is,
of the International Association of Ma
chinists, said:
organs letter is not radical enough.
1t is so weak it will destroy much con-
fidence on the part of the working
people in the Democratic party. Bryan
has no longer u ghost OF show of be-
ing elected"
John A. Dyche, of the International
Womens Garment Makers Union,
said:
Bryan with h weak letter may
gain the support OF many conservatives
but will ALLEVIATE the labor vote"
President John Young of the Litho-
graphers' International Protective and
Beneficial Association of the United
States, said:
Bryan has no show at all of being
| elected. His letter of acceptance will
not cut much ice with the working
people. 1 do not believe in his meth
DDS. The Republican and Democratic
parties are both lukewarm when it
comes to aiding laboring classes"
The truth is there are scores OF
trade union leaders wno are absolute
ly opposed to Bryan and to the meth
DDS put into operation by President
Gompers to try to force trade union
lists to vote for Bryan, but these lead
ers just at present prefer, for obvious
reasons, to remain more or less silent.
They can easily see the infinite harm
the policy of Samuel Gompers will do
the trade union cause.