Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-11-02
CONTINUED from Page one.)


tested and denounced that judicial in
vasion of the rights of the workers to
equality before the law, and the denial
of the right of trial by jury.
All Members Liable.
The decision of the supreme court
in the hatters' case which brings our
labor organizations under the Sherman
antitrust law, making every member
Of our organizations liable to three
fold damages, and to be finad by the
court in the sum of $4,000, and i'm
prisoned for one year, has endangered
the existence of the organized effort
of the workers; has placed them at
the mercy of interruptions employers,
IS well as the within or fancy Of fed
eral administrations. Every labor or
ganization, every worker, felt the in
justice which placed in the same cate
CORY the greedy and tyrannical cor
portions and trusts with the volun-
tary, beneficial and humanizing efforts
OF the voluntary organizations of labor
When the great conference of the
| re sponsible officers of our Information
| a! unions was cid at Washington,
March, 1908. protest to congress was
drafted, unanimously agreed to, and
presented to the representatives of the
republican majority in congress. It
set forth the relief which the toilers
/ of our country demanded from such
an intolerable situation. That confer
eEce also drafted and issued an ad-
dress to all the workers of our coun-
try. Mass meetings of the toiling
masses of the United States were
held April 1920. and resolutions
adopted declaratory of their unaltera-
lie and determined purpose 10 de-
mand relief now. and pledging all to
such industrial and political action as
would secure it.
| Congress Was Deaf.
Congress turned a deaf or an insult
ing ear to the toilers. The republican
convention at Chicago spurned with
lily concealed attempt any declaration
for relief. The democratic party cor
daily welcomed labor's representa-
tives, and adopted in its platform the
specific remedies for labor's wrongs,
and for the establishment of its rights.
The republican party's candidate,
Mr.. Taft. has emphasized his position,
his injunction record as Judge.
i The democratic party's candidate,
Mr.. Bryan. has unflinchingly commit
ted himself to labor's contention: that
is, to guarantee the existence and
rights of organized labor, and the real
remedy for the abuse of the injunc
ton, and in addition thereto. the de-
mands which labor makes for matcria
Improvements.
The executive council of the Ameri
can Federation of Labor. fully in &C
cord with the sentiment and purpose
of the workers of our country, has
campaign of labor's political duty OF
the hour in the hands of the under
signed, and You have been communi
Gated with from time 10 time n regard
: thereto.
l Conscious of TIE full responsible,
resting upon us all. and with the
knowledge that the labor movement o.
Cur country must be preserved. no
only in this campaign, but for al! timt
a all our fellow workers to stand tru,
o to their union aud to the cause of HUI
manity. We recommend that arrange
q ments at once be made for a genera
Tor special meeting to be held on Sat
Il urday, Oct. 81. Or Sunday, Nov /. ant
e that there resolutions be adopted SET
: ting forth the attitude and duty o
t. the workers and the people of on
country in this critical hour.
Enclosed you will find letter unde
+ date of Oct. ~. addressed to the me!
Of labor and lovers of human liberty
r. which We ask you to carefully read
# and give your deliberate and earnes
e consideration.
e. Not Politically Partisan.
L., The labor movement is not polit
II lcally partisan. 1t is neither demo
is cratic, nor republican, nor other. Gu
h movement proposes to be as indepent
l. ent from political partisan domination
y now and in the future as it has eve
is been.
x. The rights, interests and welfare G
the workers have been jeopardized an
fagrantly disregarGed and repudiate
is by the republican party and its cand
d date.
al The democratic party and its cal
E. didate have made labor's rights. il
le terests and welfare their own confer
10 tons. Both political parties and the
t. candidates have spoken.
e. The workers and liberty loving me
g. OF our country have made and a;
re making Their choice as their duty an
id conscience dictate. It should be a
y. flrmed and emphl sized by resolution
10 and action.
irl Without a word OF disparagemer
a. to third parties. no one pretends |
believe that it Is possible for them
win in this campaign. What tn
n. working people now need is not pror
10 ises which are empty and cannot /
: carried out. but successful legislatio
70 which can be secured now. !
r. The executive council and the lab
M representation committee have l
cther interests to serve but the eau