The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1908-10-17
aoMPERs AND LABOR
Organizations Refused to Be Political.
IL Sold BY Him

lean Federation of Labor, In sending
q circular letter to the various unions
throughout the country appealing for
money with which Ito help the friends
and defeat the enemies of labor"-in
other words. to support William Jen-
nings Bryan and oppose William H.
Taft for the presidency-is being con-
demned bitterly by labor men in this
city. Officers of the various locals
in New York attack Gompers because
OF the covert manner in which he is
seeking to raise funds to participate
In the political campaign when the
chief principle Of the labor organiza-
ton Is to keep free of political alli-
ances. They are bitter against him
because of his apparent desire to in
fiuence every member Of the union to
vote for Bryan, and they are frank in
saying that he never has, and never
can, deliver single vote besides his
own against Taft.
A tour Of the delegates to the Cen
tral Federation Union, which is the
central organization of the unions al
He'd with the American Federation of
Labor, Is convincing that Gomper's
ambition to swing the labor vote will
result In dismal failure. They re-
sent the interference Of the labor lead
er and many of them say that because
OF that attempt at political domina-
tion they will show their independence
by voting for Taft. Many Of the dele
gates to the Central local organization
have been directed to announce that
the members of their local union are
opposed to political manipulations by
labor and they will not contribute q
dollar toward Gompers' fund. They
served notice to that effect at a week.
ly meeting.
Unions Refuse Gompers' Plea for
Money.
The result of the Vaccinations of
Gompers and his efforts to use sledge
hammer methods to whip the laboring
men into line for Bryan will be that
the workmen will vote strictly accord
Ing to the dictates of their conscience.
Republican union men are fighting
stanchly for Taft and because of Com
per's methods have won Democrats
to their side. James r. Ryan, dele
gate to G. F. U. from the Photo En-
grayers' Union No. 1, who has been
bitterly opposed to the proposition .of
the central body in concurring with
the burden of the letter sent out by
Gompers, said that his union would
not contribute dollar to Gomper's
fund.
"Adherents of .Gompers," said he,
ARE seeking to show that the Repub-
lican party never has enacted legis-
lation in answer to the request of the
labor unions. In the last two years,
since Governor Hughes has been in
office, the federated unions have made
many appeals to the state legislature
for laws, and practically every one
OF their appeals has been answered. ).
Under the guidance of Governor
Hughes the state legislature has en-
acted more laws aiding labor than
all the previous legislatures put to-
gether.
Democratic Party Never Helped La.
bOr.
II know as fact that mighty few
organizations will vote cent toward
the Gompers fund. My organization
will not give anything"
Alfred ]. Boulton, leading member
Of the Stereotypers' union, said that
his union would not take any action
on the circular. II fought for Bryan
in 1885," he said, "but l am against
him this year. The Democratic party
never has done anything for the la
boring man when in power. No party
ever has promised more or done less
and no party has less claim upon the
support of laborers than has the Dem
ocratic party. If when the Democrats
were in power the plutocrats of this
country ever were denied anything,
should like to know what that one
thing is. The leaders of the Demo-
cratic party have betrayed the masses
and now Bryan'is seeking to harmon
ize the forces that plunder and are
plundered. but he will fail miserably.
The people who are lined up behind
him now are those who have plum
dered the laboring people,"
Albert Abrahams, of the Pressmen's
union, asked this question: Whats
the use of the laboring men contri-
buting a few thousand dollars to the
Democratic party when that party will
get hundreds of thousands Of dollars,
II not millions, from the Standard Oil
company" Adolph Krieger, of Local
No. 476, United Brotherhood Of Car
penters and Joiners, is bitterly op-
posed to the action Of Gompers. Eli
as Wolf, of the. Cigarmakers' union
No. 80, said: IT other unions are
fools enough to get money for Bryan
my union won't"
Says Union Won't Vote for Bryan.
Morris Brown said: Il am always
man enough to oppose any attempt
by the American Federation Of Labor
to pledge its members to any political
party. l have positive evidence that
Gompers advocated abolition of the
government injunction plank and now
wants labor to vote for the weak in
junction plank of the Democratic par
ty which never can be put In force.
Despite the requests Of Gompers the
working people will never vote for
Bryan"
Victor Buhr, member Of the Anal
gamated Painters, said: "The cheap
est painters are being employed for
contracts given out by the Democratic
politicians Of This city. The Demo-
cratic politicians ,1ill the taxicabs,
driven BY strike bfeakers, with police
while little boy gets shot to death. =