Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-04
LOCAL LABOR LINES UP
Central Labor Union Adopts
Bryan Resolution
AFTER HOT DISCUSSION
President Gompers Gets Warm Greet
ing During Address.
AGAIN DEFINES POSITION
Wants Party That Accepted Labor
Planks to Be Victorious-Not
All Harmonious.

President Samuel Gompers of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor addressed the
Central Labor Union of the District last
evening in favor of his stand that or
ganized labor should support Bryan in
the coming presidential election. At the
conclusion of his speech the union voted
his way. Mr.. Gompers declared that he
was mot a democrat nor a republican
but an Independent trades unionist who Is
in sympathy with the policies advocated
by the democrats party
The resolution adopted by the union
was discussed for several hours, and ar
attempt was made by Sam De Nedry
secretary of the Central Labor Union
and others to defer action. The resolution
is as follows:
Resolved. by the Central Labor Union
in regular session assembled, That II
support the stand taken by President
Gompers and his fellow officers of the
position to William H. Taft for the presi-
dency, and call upon all law -abiding and
honest workingmen of the country to use
| their best endeavors In the interest OF
William J. Bryan, to the end that he
may be ina ugurated President of our re-
public the fourth day of next March. moi
as democrat. but as q man friendly to
organized labor and standing on a plat.
form. which he freely approves. favora bic
to organized labor and the wage earners
of the United States regardless of affilia-
lions
Drafted by Committee.
The resolution was drafted by special
committee appointed at the last session OF
the union to draw up a statement in con-
nection with an article In q New York
newspaper July II, in which 1t was stated
that during the period when Mr.. Taft was
Secretary of War he awarded a contract
for the manufacture of uniforms fol-
American soldiers to an English concern
employing Chinese coolie labor. The sol
diers referred to were doing duty in the
Philippines. This statement Is included in
the preamble of the resolution. The pre-
amble also declares that the republican
party refused to incorporate In It's plat
form any promise of relief from the un-
just decisions that have been rendered by
the federal courts" respecting organized
labor. whereas the democratic party did
give such a promise.
Applause for Gompers.
President Gompers' speech was punctu-
ated with enthusiastic applause from start
to finish and before he had proceeded
long the meeting was keyed up to high
pitch. 1t ended by being one of the most
union in recent years.
When he had denounced attempts to
paint him as debating to organized
labor" In the matter Of politics, Mr..
Gompers went on to say:
Il am not a democrat; l am not a
republican,; and I have no party to
serve. If live. 1 shall be just az in
dependent the day after election as am
tonight. TITS true we went to Chicago
and to Denver. but I and the members
Of the executive committee of the
American Federation Of Labor went as
nonpartisans to demand our rights. At
Chicago We were insulted, but our re-
ception at Denver was most cordial.
They declared our contentious to be
their own principles. I am not saying
a democrat-but as one who is opposed
to anything against the interests Of
labor.
II sincerely hope the party which has
consented to insert our 1ssues into Its
platform, which now contains our con-
tentions, will win in the coming cam
paign au.
ton to no one. and l am not debating to
labor when l say we ought to take ad-
vantage Of the present opportunity to
obtain our revenge. 1 have been crItl-
cised and ridiculed recently by the pub
lie press, but 1 tell you 1 have no per-
sonaI ambition in this matter, and have
simply keeping in march time with the
demands Of labor and of my country.
so long as I retain my sanity l Will
continue to fight the wrongs and injus-
tice against my fellow-man. You labor
ine men and your thousands of brothers
in this country need not be loyal to this
man Gompers, but be true to yourselves
and vote as your individual consciences
dictate"
BY Way Of Explanation.
A letter from President Gompers to
Delegate John F. Brnkman. representing
Columbia Typographical Union. No. 101.
was read a. the meeting. In this letter
Mr.. Gompers says, among other things:
"Of course. l do not wish you or any
one else for a moment 70 imagine that
any one who may differ from the policies
laid down by organized labor or advocated
by myself is therefore either dishonorable
or dishonest, but you can readily realize
what is implied by the establishment of
the so-called labor bureaus and what they
will aim to accomplish. AS take it. they
will make it point to discredit anything
which I or any other authorized repre-
sentative of the labor movement may say
or do-to throw odium upon our every act,
to create suspicion and destroy confidence.
You will have noticed that some of those
who have been outcasts from the labor