Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-22

Samuel Gompers.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, recognized
as the mouthpiece of organized working
men, gave out last night the proofsheets
of his coming editorial in the official
news organ of the federation, in which
he urges all workingmen to study the
platforms of the two principal political
parties and to vote according to their
judgment.
At the same time he unhesitatingiy raps
the republican, party and holds out the
labor planks incorporated in the demo-
cratic platform as substantially identical
with labor's demands. Gompers states
that while he does not wish in any way
to interfere with any mans right to
choose his own political Affiliations. the
worker who supports the republican party
will have to reckon with his own con-
science and his fellow-workmen.
Analysis Of Conditions.
Gompers' statement covers several mag
azine pages and gives an analysis of the
actions and results accruing from the
presence of Iabors representatives at the
two national conventions.
The republican platform comes In for
its share Of criticism early in the editori-
al. The brief statement is made that the
republican national convention at chi
cago refused to incorporate the demands
of labor in it's platform. and instead In
serted a plank on injunctions which In
dorses the existing abuse of the injunc-
ton as applied to labor disputes.
On the other hand, Mr.. Gompers says,
the democratic convention at Denver
made labor's demands a part of its plat
form. The planks proposed by labor to
the republican convention are quoted in
full followed by the injunction plank
adopted by the convention.
Mr.. Gompers comments as follows:
"At a glance. the plank adopted will be
seen to be a flimsy. tricky evasion of the
issue. 1t is an Endorsement of the very
abuse against which labor justly protests,
and would, If enacted by Congress, give
injunctions in labor disputes, an authority
which does not now exist. 1t is a pro-
injunction, not nanti-injunction. dec
laration. 1t Is worse than meaningless
and evasive,' as the neutrality-suspicious.
press has designated 1t. 1t would make
more acute the wrongs by which the toll
ers are forced to bear the unjust judicial
burden of injunction discrimination.
Insult in Platform.
THAT part of the plank declaring that
the republican party will uphold the au-
thority and integrity of. the court is a
gratuitous, indefensible and covert in
suit, not only TO the men of labor. but to
the courts themselves. 1t implies that the
integrity and legal authority Of the courts
have been questioned 1t was adopted to
appease the corporation magnates and
corporation lawyers who demanded that
the republican convention adopt such a
declaration.
1.-The same sort of influences which de-
manded the Incorporation of this declara-
ton in regard to the courts fashioned
the declarations and attitude Of the cham
bers Of commerce and boards of trade of
New York and elsewhere during the rev.
olution for American independence when
they assured King George of their loyalty
to the British crown and their unaIter-
able opposition to American independ-
ence 1t were better that the republican
convention had entirely ignored the ques-
ton than to have attempted to foist such
plank upon the people"
He says also that the republicans have
disregarded Lincoln's warning that you
can fool some of the people all OF the
time, all of the people sometimes but
you cannot fool all the people all the
time" He mentions the decision Of the
case and makes the oftheard statement
that labor organizations are not trusts
but voluntary organizations, and formed
for the purpose of advancing and pro-
tecting personal rights.
Labor asked the republican convention
for bread and it gave a stone. The Van
yHeayes and the republican press In
phrase and cartoon sneeringly told la
bor TO Co TO Denver Well. We did
And we shall tell you what happened
there"
Democratic Platform Satisfactory.
Then follow the planks proposed by
labor to the democratic convention,
which, with the exception of the pre-
auble and change of party name, are iden-
tical with those submitted to the repub-
leans. Gompers' short comment on the
blanks adopted at Denver is that they are
substantially the same as those which la
Dor demanded.
II is the belief of Mr. Gompers and
those associated with him that the whole
mass of workers of the country will sup
mort the democratic ticket as the result
OF the labor planks of the platform.
Gompers urges the workers. and their
friends to support the democrats In this
campaign saying that it has shown SYM
nathy with the wrongs against labor and
a desire to see that the rights of the
people are restored.
eve saw this not necessarily because II
"a TIE democratic party which has done
this We would urge the workers to SUD-
nort any party which had Incorporated
our demands into It's platform and prom
Used to work for their fulfillment.'
The statement that Gompers has prom
ised to deliver the labor vote to the
democratic party is characterized as alb
surd. He says that the opposition press
has tried to create the impression that
labor would vote in accordance with the
instructions of the American Federation
Of Labor, but that the statement Is so
foolish as to hardly require refutation.
No Attempt to Deliver Vote.
He says that such an attempt would be
asinine But he does in all seriousness
urge the workers and all good citizens to
consider most carefully and thoughtful
ly the attitude of the two great political
parties toward the fundamental rights
and principles embodied in labor's de-
mands."
Gompers advises every man to study the