The morning journal-courier., 1908-07-16
Cannot Be Delivered to Bryan by Gompers or by Anyone
 Else, Declares Henry { White.
INJUNCTION ISSUE A FARCE
Independent Labor Leader Believes
 Attempt to Plunge Unions Into Politics VIII Lead to Disruption.

New York, July l5,--According t1 Henry White. labor leader and writer on subjects pertaining to the working mans condition, Samuel Gompers has undertaken an Impossible task in offer ing to deliver the labor vote of the United States to William J. Bryan. Mr White was formerly general sec retary of the United Garment Workers of America, and a member of the Ma tional Civic Federation. He held the position of secretary until four years ago, when he resigned, because of q strike he opposed. He and Gompers were once intimate friends. While on the legislative committee of the Fed eration of Labor White often sounded members of congress on labor le2isla- ton, Although four years ago ne was expelled from the federation and de- nounced as an arch-trai,or, he Is not out of the labor movement. The Broth orhood of the Tailors of Amcslca, a body of 5000O members. offered h'm the leadership of the organization this week
 "sammie is playing a bold hand, and the stakes are pretty big, but am afraid a show down will once more prove, and in way that will be most convincing. that the laD0r vote cant he delivered by anybody" he said, when asked today what he thought of Gompers' action. 'so long as the Not- ing power If inc unions remains a men ace. an unknown qffgntity, many con sessions can he forced from the powers that be. as has been shown; but wher- ever this voting power has been meas ured. wherever the leaders have had tc stand up and be counted, the result has been farcieal.
 "rhls was the ease two years ago when Compers and his lieutenants started out to scalp Cannon, Llttlefield anu others. Why, Sam himself was a candidate on the labor and republican ticket in this city for delegate to tha constitutional convention not so lons ago. and he barely got the regular re- publican vote.
 "The fact Is that union people think bDIuA ltlf Nri sliN htAN tts RAil'l HN'fi' w. Because q man is a member of the un- ion for trade benefits, he does not hand oyer his right to judge political ques- tions to any one who happens to be al inc head, especially when, as in thii case, 1t Is so manifest that the feder ! ation chiefs are seeking political power
 "Never was ihero such an audacioui h.4 i, t,,. If labor to further the fortunes of a r.nl winch has dominated the union move mGnt for . decade CT more. Who in vested them with the authority to bar gain with either political party in tn rame of the millions of organized Ia bor? Were they to succeed in th! move, we would have government b. the club of any man or set of men wh happened to be at the head of the un ion movement or any great body 0 / voters. whatevef the original purpos of such body.
 "The issue raised az a justification flr this extraordinary proceeding ol the part of the labor chiefs k pur myth. The injunction has played an in significant part in labor union affairs the fact of their remarkable prowt proves 1t. What can an iniunct on d that will injure the legitimate purpos of unions? They never bothered m when led the Garment Workers i many a strike, and know that tn average union man wonders what a this injunction talk Is about
 q firmly believe that thls attempt plunge the labor unions into the mael strom of partisan politics will lead a disruption. The attempt conflicts VI olently with the time-honored policy ( Labor, a policy that had no stronge adherent than Gompers himself Tn policy to him was all right so far q if kept the Federation from being car tured by the socialists, but when l. sees a chance to play the Napoleo and to O. K presidential candidate and determine who shall be presiden 1t is different.
 "rhe predecessor of the Federation the National Labor Union, in 1878, a oording to the official Federation hi tory, went to smash because 1t non mated a presidential ticket
 John F. Pritchard, secretary Of u International Union of Payers, Han mcrmcn Flaggers, Bridge and Stoi [ Curb setters, at No 20 Third avenu eaid
 "While believe that Gompers
 trying to do his best for the interes of organized labor, I don't propose
 lot any one man take away my ire dom at tho ballot box. No one ma can speak for all labor men. Our Vo is independent, and the consensus
 lahor oninion Is the same.