The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-09-05
Some Reflections
On Labor Day

determination to stand by each other,
and by the organizations of labor,
which have done SO much to bring
sunshine and hope into the lives of
the toilers.
In all parts of our country the
workers, the wealth producers, and
people are united in
heart and mind, determined that the
wrongs which the toilers have too
long borne shall be speedily righted,
and the rights to which they are justly
entitled shall be established and safe
guarded.
The Norfolk convention of the
American Federation of Labor last
November sounded, the keynote for
united action upon the part of the
toilers in every field of activity to Sc
cure justice. The great Protest Con-
ference held at Washington last
March, in which the responsible rep
resentatives of the American trade
unions participated and which was in
effect a special convention of the
American Federation of Labor re-
emphasized this determination and
directed the officers of our general
the great rank and file of the workers
of our country, to make every effort
to secure legislation at the hands of
congress, or upon failure of congress
fn fo1 frY,t thny yhnp
ever it might, which would safeguard
and advance the rights and interests
of labor and secure justice to all.
So general and intense an express
sion of purpose by Americas workers
was. in its very nature, command.
The representatives of the labor move
ment earnestly urged and petitioned
congress to action. Its cold d-blooded,
antagcnistic answer is now history.
At the convention of the republican
party at Chicago it is well known
what scant courtesy was accorded,
and that which was incorporated in
entire subject had been ignored. It'll
was an affirmation for a law that
would give statutory authority for the
very worst abuses of the Injunction
wrti-an authority which does not
now exist.
On the other hand. the representa-
tives of labor were welcomed by the
representatives of the democratic
party. An entire evening was given to
Messrs. Duncan, Mitchell and Gompers
of the American Federation of Labor
executive council, and Mr.. Fuller,
representing the railroad brother
hoods. to present and argue labors
contentious. All members of the ex-
ecutive council of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor present at Denver
being in attendance at the hearing
Finally. the democratic party con.
structed it's platform to conform to
labor's demands.
1t is true that other minor political
parties have declared more or less
plausibly in favor of labor's conten.
tions With that subject we have
deals elsewhere in this Issue of the
American Federationist We simply
repeat here that the American workers
are not playing" politics. They are
engaged in an earnest, serious, de-
termined contest today to secure the
rights OF the working people and al.
our people,! not in some future, dim,
distant day, but now. Americas
workers can not afford to postpone
what is their absolute interest and
duty now
We urge upon the toilers of the
country from now on to stand by their
unions, If possible, more earnestly
than ever before. We shall require
our organizations more, even in the
future than we have in the past. Let
us go among the yet unorganized and
bring them within the beneficent fold
OF our unions. Let us extend the
hand of fellowship to the non-uuion
meA and bring them to understand
that 1t is their highest duty and moral
obligation not only to reap the ad.
vantages which associated effort
brings, but to bear in part the re-
sponsibilities and obligations which 1t
imposes.
Let all on Labor Day preach the
gospel OF the rights and the just de-
mands which organized labor present.
to society Let us stand by each
otner from one end to the other of
our country, bearing in mind that we
nave one common goal to achieve.
We are associated not to tear down,
but to build up. We are associated
| to help our fellows the man ana