Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-13
CALL TO LABOR VOTE
Executive Council, A. F. l.,
Approves Political Plan.
PARTISANSHIP Is DENIED
Union Workmen Urged to Stand by
Their Friends.
APPEAL MADE FOR FINANCES
Volunteers to Organize and Further.
Campaign of Labor organiza-
tions Are Asked For.
APPEAL MADE FOR FINANCES

The executive council of the American
Federation of Labor, after an all-day ses-
sion, yesterday unanimously adopted the
report of the labor representation commit
tee selected by the council to conduct the
political activities 'of the organized eff
forts of the workers in the present polit-
ical campaign to attain the legislative re-
lief and remedy as outlined by the Min
neapolis and Norfolk conventions of the
federation.
The report calls upon the workers Of
our common country to stand faithfully by
our friends oppose and defeat our enc
mics, whether they be candidates for
President Congress. or other Offices.
whether executive, legislative or judi
cial"
1t recommends that another appeal be
issued to secure the election Of men ia
vorable to securing the justice, rights
and equality before the law to which the
candidates who are Indifferent or hostile
to such legislative reliefs."
Notwithstanding Is Asserted.
eve shall in the future says the re-
port, ''as we have in the past, shape our
course upon non-partisan basis. We have
judged and propose to judge candidates
for any office upon their records and at
titude, and not because of their political
party aff1lation.''
The report points out the failure of
Congress to enact legislation necessary
to safeguard the normal activities of la
bor's existence, as denied now by the
Supreme Court. holding that the unions
of workers come under the Sherman anti
trust law ETC., or to consider any bill to
secure Ito the workers the constitutional
guarantee of equality by remedying the
abuse and perversion of the injunction
process
1t recounts sending Of organizers into
the Danville, ILL.,. congressional district
Speaker Cannon'S distri6t-and other con-
gressional districts, carrying out the
policy of the American labor movement"
"A number of conspicuous opponents.
both In the United States Senate and the
House of Representatives. says the re-
port, have been defeated for renomina-
ton through the activity inaugurated by
us and by our fellow unonists, and a
number of union men have been nom
mated for Congress"
Campaign to Be Organized.
ut is our purpose, to the full extent Of
our financial resources, to appoint a num-
Der of organizers and print literature
dealing with the primary and important
interests of labor. Incident thereto we
financial assistance to the one issued a
few months ago requesting voluntary
financial contributions.
The report urges the cooperation of
international unions in the way of plac-
ing organizers at the disposal OF the fed
Grafton in furtherance of labors political
campaign and the issuance of a circular
to national and international organiZa-
lions and other friendly associations urg-
ing compliance with the views expressed
in the report.
1t declares there is unanimity of SEN
timent and determination to fully carry
out the policy declared by the organized
labor movement.
The attitude of the council toward Pres
ident Gompers' position in the campaign
is expressed in the report as follows:
Defense of Gompers.
I'VE desire to refute here the asper-
sions that have been cast upon the execu-
tive council, and particularly one of its
members, President Gompers, that it is
our purpose, or his. to dictate to the
working people of our country how they
should cast their votes in the coming cleo
lions, nor has any one promise the vote
of the working people to any particular
party.
we have strongly, clearly and en-
phatically. as 1t was our duty. presented
the situation in which the working peo-
pie of the country find themselves, the
demands which labor has made upon both
political parties to necessary action
which they should take. the treatment
they have received, and have appealed TO
the Judgment and patriotism of the work.
ing people and the friends of labor
throughout the country, since both politi-
cal parties have spoken, to make their
choice as their conscience may dictate.
The misrepresentation of newspapers
and others to the contrary notwithstand-
ing, we repeat and insist. and We have
so conducted and propose to SO conduct
our course, that the labor movement shall
remain as free and independent from
political partisan domination as 1t has
ever been in its history.