Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-05
WHATLABORSAYS NOW
Defeat of A. F. L. Program
Justified by Hayes.
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
Master Workman, K. of L., Declares
Federation Leaders Wrong.
GOMPERS REVIEWS RESULTS
Though Losing What They Fought
for, Yet Workman's Cause Has
Been Advanced, He Says.
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
OMPERS REVIEWS RESULTS

Leaders of organized labor are engaged
in telling how it all happened.
The defeat of the political program or
the American Federation of Labor was
regarded by some big craftsmen as
genuine disaster to the cause
John w. Hayes. master workman OF the
once powerful Knights Of Labor, believes
the election of Taft and Sherman will
mean the upbuilding of that association
of workers to its former high-water mark.
He says many workmen will repudiate the
efforts of the officers of the American
Federation Of Labor to deliver the labor
vote to the democratic party.
Hayes Blames Federation Leaders.
THE disaster that has just fallen to the
lot of the American Federation officers as
a result Of their reputation by the work.
ingmen of the country is but history re-
peating ITSELF" he says. "A wise set of
leaders would have learned something
from the past
These men knew. or ought to have
known. that the function of labor
union is to better the condition of its
members. and not to compel voluntary
member to vote contrary to his convic-
tions for a candidate not of his choice.
mr. Gompers and his associate officers
exceeded their authority in taking the
American Federation Of Labor into
politics. They knew. while attempting
to force their obnoxious views upon the
either in law or In morals to do. SO.
They know that the membership of
the federation is made up of men be-
longing to all political parties. and that
to attempt to coerce them into sinking
their personal opinions and voting for
one particular candidate was contrary
to their laws. rules and customs. Ger
tainly 1t was an unwarranted interior
ence with the rights of the citizen men,
Der.
Notwithstanding this. these men-in
their insane desire to be revensed upon
certain members of Congress and the re-
publican candidate for President for fall
ure to recognize and permit them to push
through Congress such legislation as
would make of them, as labor leaders. a
privileged class. immune from punish
ment for the various crimes that they
might indulge in while prosecuting the
strike and the boycott-were willing to
risk the very existence of their organiza-
ton.
Every. intelligent union man knows
that to boycott the business interests of
an employer is now a crime; yet this po-
litical contest waged by Mr.. Gompers and
right to commit this class of crime con-
ferred upon them. which would be clearly
nothing but class legislation. and II en-
acted into law would be unconstitutional
OeIeal, tncISIOTes was just HS
returns show that their course did not
meet with the approval Of the organized
workingmen Of the country"
Gompers Reviews Situation.
Samuel Gompers. president Of the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor, has issued a
statement in which he says:
1.-THE organized workers stood true to
the cause of Justice and human freedom.
This is not the first time in the struggles
of the masses that intrenched wealth.
privilege and power gained material,
even though temporary victory.
THE moral influence of the campaign
is with the cause of the workers. The
part labor took compelled the discussion
to be devoted almost exclusively to the
labor question. labor movement and the
principles of right, justice and humanity
upon which their philosophy and demands
are based. '.''
.'Even though disappointed with the
immediate result there is no cause. and
there will not be any. for the loss of faith
and confidence in the justice of labor's de-
mands and their successful achievement.
Action consistent. insistent and persistent
will achieve for the toilers the triumph
Of the cause of labor and the cause Of
human justice.
Though temporarily defeated labor is
not conquered. The future is ours