The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-22

The Journal of Labor believes that
organized labor throughout the country
should rally to the support of the Dem
ocratic presidential ticket on account
of what tranSpircd at Chicago and al
Denver. and because OF the adoption
of the pIanks in the platform of the
Democratic party as advocated by
President GOmDerS and the executive
council Of the American Federation
Of Labor
Inasmuch however. as this question
Of organized labor endorsing political
parties or platforms, * a most import
ant subject. and should be guarded
hv well defined limitations and agree
ably to the principles and tenets OF
tradCs-uniCriSm. and in order that
the Journal of Labor may not be mis-
understood We shall attempt to eN-
plain the attitude of organized labor
toward parties and politics generally
speaking. and briefly refer to the
causes which led up to the stand taken
by Nj GOmpeT~ and the executive
council. and set forth what the Jour
nal of Labor believes was, and IS, the
real purpose Of Mr. GOmperS and his
able Iieutcnants. in recommending the
Democratic ticket to the favorable
consideration of the tOileTs Of the
country
First The trade union movement
is fundamentally. an economic move
ment n primarily. has to do with
the matter of fair wages, and an eight
hour wOrkdav and suitable and SAM
tsrv conditions and environments OF
labor
The accomplishment of these ends
necessarily work for the benefit and
hctferment Of those who toll. in the
nf unnd things
of life. so to speak. not only the neces-
stiles. but the comforts. yea the lux
uries of me If YOU please; sutfic Ient
hours of rest and recreation. and op-
portunities for culture: and lastly,
the safeguarding and protection Of
the lives. and lin Os. and health, OF
employees as they toll
Toward these splendid ends organ
lied labor has nObly striven, has
struggled increasingly against ODDS
which at times appeared OvcTwhelm-
ing. and which sOreIy tried the souls
Of its votaries and it has made splen-
did progress toward the accomplish
mcat of such ends.
Such struggle viii go on and on. IN
ceasingIy- as long as the wage system
prevails. or until employers every
where freely and fully accord TO Ia
hor its ju-t proportion of the joint
products of capital and labor,
Fundamentally. the trade union
movement is opposed TO the formation
of an independent pU-ftiCal party
within its ranks Organized labor can
not afford to run the risk of eudanger.
ing or sacrificing its endeavOrs II the
larger field of economics ny commit
ting itself to the uncertain shifting
treacberOus domain of politics.
Where economies Questions OF
wages. hours Of labor, conditions OF
work. touch the trade UnIOnISt nine
times. purely political questions viii
touch him but once
Again. trade unioniSm- having that
broader ground of fellowship upon
which all labor can make common
cause. l. composed Of men Of diver
gent. political, religious and ethical
faiths.
AID. except in well defined limira-
tiOnS. and under special or "meTgeHt
conditions and circumstance labor
cannot be amalgamated OF led. And
IT will live ages after every existing
political party shall have passed away
forever
Under the guidance Of Unwise lead
err organized labor attempted twice
in this country 10 convert the trade
union movement into a political move
ment. and such political movements
failed misera bly,.
Such movements. for the reasons
above stated were fOreOrdaiued TO
defeat and disaster.
But. while organized labor may not
wisely form an independent labor pO-
IiticaI party. and expect all. or a vast
majority. Of the workingmen 70 CO.
alesce into such party so as TO form
permanent, powerful, compact politi-
cal agency, yet there is much that il
can do. and safely, in the domain of
politics.
Harken ye members of organized
labor. With cold feet Tendencies. II
such there be. % what Mr. Van Clesye
says in Americaa Industries. the or