Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-09-27
DEMOCRATS GET
LABOR SUPPORT
RINGING ENDORSEMENT GIVEN
COUNTY TICKET
ToILERs URGED TO VOTE THE
BRYAN TICKET
Central Labor Council Is Sending Out
$4,000 Letters Telling Why
Workmen Should Help
Elect Nebraskan

Labor's Endorsement in Los Angeles
of the Democratic national and local
platforms is set forth in the following
ringing letter to workingmen from the
Central Labor council of Los Angeles,
$4,000 copies of which are now being
distributed:
ITO Organized Labor in Los Angeles
County:
Dear Sirs and Brothers-The action
of the Central Labor council of Los
Angeles in indorsing the national DEM
ocratic platform and the platform of
the Democratic convention of Los An
geles county has been the subject of
previous communication from the Cen
trail Labor council of Los Angeles.
1.-THE instances leading up to this
action can be given in few words. In
indorsing the national Democratic plat
form we were guided by the treatment
accorded organized labor by the ma
tional platform committees of the two
great parties through our honored
president, Samuel Gompers, and his
executive council, as we learned them
through the public press and later
through the circular letter sent out by
the executive council of the American
Federation of Labor.
"Quoting from that document we
find:
1.-The national convention of the Re-
publican party at Chicago refused to
incorporate the demands of labor in it's
platform, and instead inserted plank
on injunction which indorses the ex-
listing abuse of the injunction as APP
piled to labor disputes. 1t Is a
pro-injunction, not an anti-injunction
declaration
1.-The Democratic convention at Den
yer, on the other hand, made lapors
6ar do nf q nj
$50 much for the national platforms.
"The committee of union men who
went before the Republican and DEM
ocratic conventions of Los Angeles
county received almost identical treat
ment from the platform committees OF
the two parties as did the executive
committee of the American Federation
of Labor from their national conven-
lions. Upon presenting themselves as
a committee at the door of the plat
form committee room of the Republic
can county convention they were re-
quested to send in their cards, which
they did; the doorkeeper shortly re-
turned, saying that the platform COM
mittee had decided to see no commit
tees. but IL we had anything to submit
for their consideration to send 1t in and
1t would be taken up This was done,
the committee submitting the follow
platform of the Republican party or
os Angeles county:
Believing that combinations OF cap
ital and labor are the results Of the
economic movement of the age,
awe reaffirm the attitude of the ma
! tional Republican convention of 1908
! to maintain the standing of American
! labor and to establish the eight-hour
workday.'
!, 90 No
heard from them again, and no men,
tom of labor's demands was madezfn
the platform of the Los Angeles county
Republicans. seag7
"On the other hand, when the same
committee waited on the platform COM
mittee of the Los Angeles county DEM
ocratic convention and presented pre-
ciseIy the same demands, we were
courteously received, our demands an
alyzed and discussed in our presence
and the following planks in favor of
organized labor agreed upon by their
committee and eventually adopted
unanimously by tfe~convention:
Labor Plank Adopted
awe reaffirm the planks in the ma
tional Democratic platform of 1908 re-
garding injunctions and emphasize the
belief that the courts of justice are
the bulwarks of our liberties. and we
yield to none in our purpose to main
tain their dignity and that "inJunc-
tions should not be issued in any case
in which injunctions would not issue
If no Industrial disputes were involved"
awe reaff1rm the attitude of the
national Democratic convention of 1908
in it's determination to maintain the
standing of American labor and to es-
tablish the eight-hour workday.
1--WE believe that labor has an I'M
doubted right to organize for its own
protection; and we approve the efforts
of labor to elevate its citizenship and
increase it's efficiency
sit is nat the desire of the Central
Labor council to dictate to any union
man as to what ticket or for whom he
shall vote. We hold that the franchise
of the American citizen is sacred
possession--one of the things that
raises the American workingman above
the inhabitant of absolute or semi-bar-
barrie monarchies. But we do desire to
impress upon every man who labors
the necessity of studying the platforms
of the two great parties-let other par
tisan affiliations be cast aside for the
present-do not be led into an ineffect-
i've warfare when the great battle for
human rights and liberties is being
waged, and your destiny and the des-
tiny of posterity is hanging in the ball
ance.
zone vote may carry your precinct;
one vote in each precinct may carry
the ward--carry the wards and the city
Is saved to us--save the city and the
county is ours, and a great influence
will be exercised upon the political as
pect of the state.
"Moral: Don't let one vote go wrong.
Read! STUDY Think! and vote as your
interests dictate!
."Take no mans word as to the quail
ifications of candidates for office; go
to them personally and do as your
committee did with the two conven-
tions-get them on record! Study their
records as public officials and satisfy
yourself as to their claims for your
franchise.
1--WE shall rely on the earnestness.
honesty and intelligence of our fellow
workers and co unit upon their loyalty
to the great cause of labor, which, In
its last analysis, is Loyalty to them
selves and their country.
1--WE now call upon the workers OF
our country to
"Stand faithfully by our friends;
"Oppose and defeat our enemies,
whether they be
Candidates for president,
"For congress or other offices;
whether
executive, legislative or judicial.
"Stand BY your unions; let the spirit
of unity, fraternity, justice and love
of freedom guide you.
"By order of the Central Labor coun-
ell OF Los Angeles. Fraternally yours,
''W. A. ENGLE, President.
ATTEST: l.. w. BUTLER, Secretary.
Executive board-Eugene Gardner,
vice president; G. N. Hughes, 70, w.