Montana news., 1908-04-16
WESTERN FEDERATION POLITICS.


Word comes by private sources from
Wallace, Idaho, the heart Of the
Occur d'Alene mining district, that the
Western Federation of Miners is using
it's influence in that district to get the
socialists to refrain from putting up
ticket this fall in order to throw the
support of the Federation men, who
mostly compose the district, to the
democratic ticket.
The information comes simply as a
confirmation of what the News and its
correspondents have announced hereto.
fore as the policy that the Western
Federation of Miners previously in
Idaho, and its undoubted intentions as
to future political action.
The Western Federation of Miners
has engaged the sympathy and sup
port of the socialists of the country in
its time of difficulty and danger.
This support has been generously and
sacrificingly given under the impres.
sion perseveringly circulated broadcast
that the Federation was being perse-
cuted on account of its socialist prin.
ciples.
An examination Of the history of the
Federation and its political attitude
both before and after its socialist dee
larstions, reveals the undeniable fact
that it has never given its political in
fluence in the states where its vote wa:
an overwhelming majority to the sup
port of the socialist party, but on th,
contrary has uniformly supported the
democratic party, and elected cap
italist governors, members of the legis
lature, and judges to office. One
would think from the difficulties in
which the Federation has been almost
constantly embroiled with the STATE
that this organization of the proletaria
would have learned TO "put not it,
faith in kings On the contrary
however, il seems to assiduously ant
zealously put the democratic party int
office in every state and at ever!
point, and to learn nothing from tn
continuous drubbings which il receive
in constant reiteration from the cap
italist authorities which il has booste,
into power.
This was most glaringly evidenced il
the Carson City legislature, where, will
four members from Goldfield, wher,
the Federation and the ]. w. w. nat
been in complete control for months
there was not single socialist repre-
sentative on the floor of either house
and the Western Federation had no on,
whatever to fight its battles or speal
word for il in the governing body
which il had elected.
II was the Western Federation tha
put Governor Sparks in office. IL wa
the Western Federation that put Gov
crnor Adams in office, who sold out I,
the mine owners, relinquished his seat
and gave il to Macdonald who as
sisted at the kidnapping of the Of
ficials of the Federation.
II was the Western Federation Il
Idaho, through its democratic al
torney, John Nugent, that took tn
money socialists had sent into its de
tense fund and elected democrati
Judge Bryan 20 office in Canyo
county, who, at the behest Of Governo
Gooding's Vaccinations, abdicated hi
position as judge at the Federatio
trials, and placed Judge Wood on tn
bench, who has issued a public stat,
ment that he believed the Federatio
officials were guilty, in spite Of tn
verdict Of three juries. The result
of such political activity on the pa
of organized labor are discouragin
enough 10 give cause for the introdu
tion of Russian terrorist methods int
American labor. II is a sort Of cry
talization Of despair.
And now comes the word from tl
heart Of the Occur d'Alene district