The Boise citizen. (Boise, Idaho) 1906-1910, 1908-09-25
WORKINGMEN in POLITICS

In the Sunday Boston Globe four prominent and
socialist lawyer write the question: What Right Has
Labor to Enter Poitcs? The of Mr. Samuel Com
pers president of the American Federation of Labor He he
cannot understand how anyone could think asking such question
for su who labor do lose their right of citizenship
but they have at will the absolute right the field Of
politics preserve and conserve their rights and interests as men, as
workers and as citizens"
Mr. ompers proceeds that the supreme has inter
preted Sherman antitrust law against voluntary associations OF
making labor una l combinations ana every
member prosecution and heavy penalty and that there has
nost usupaon of individual liberty and human tree
dom bv the use of the injunction 1t has been used he de-
es TO suppress free speech free press American workers.
Mr. opers SAYS playing politics. but are engaged IN an
serious determined contest today the rights of the
working people and all our people not IN SoiHe i'ue @ ~
He orns the accusation that there any attempt barter
nd or dictate to The Federation officials did not go
TO the party conventions Republicans Democrats Working
men as such attached any party and he continues
he and the propose to be as independent after
m coming election they today have been They do
however realize that the Democratic party and its candidates nave
made labor contentious This party stands pledged pac
ed in power abors rights we would be recreat 70 o
trust and the duty fellow workers and our feoW c
zens did not support the Democratic parry anu "
% Nh n lanes Duncan of the Granite Cutters International union
saws labor has right politics and must enter pocs be
cause the influence of the interests IS exercised on Deha
s humanity; because the cog Of wheel IS reckoned OF
more concern or value human life because the new commercial
r, places the importance of the worker below tha OF properly
more than ever money worshpped however acquired ana
~ roducvitv expected to keep pace because Poduc are
bev,nd reason and who toll the free list
% M Watson of the Carpenters council places labor right
tcs on the ground that labor largely supports the govern
I aaton both and internal bears heaviest on the
r people Much good for worngnen has been accompshd
m labor taking part in politics though Al progressive S
est M the plain people fought and lobed against and
] are spent to defeat the just and equitable claims OF labor
The laborer has left the business OF politics and 100 @
ad in the of those who seek to exploit hm ana not oee
fit him -, ,c4, t7,o;,eers, ,,n;or, thinks that
las no RIGHT to keep of politics. has done SO TOO long
@ oned begged prayed congress for Legislation to pro-
mote the moral industrial welfare OF not only rs members Ou' an
4i oeonle and has always been refused
W lin Weaver Sherman socialist says it IS not only the gn1
G +y Of labor to politics and he advises all ORGANIZED
orlne1en to together but ne thinks they srouu W " W
w IA 4 nor BRYAN but Of course Debs ,..
er az AZ that labor is thus considering and discussing politics
and decisions relation thereto oole SPokes
ana xaggerate some may be mistaken but IN the mar
io when they that the government does not give ID
~ SQUARE deal labor party can never succeed any le @
direction or the as between the big parties one OF
~, i sure TO win labor hold the balance OF power ana e
ocessfullv demand better treatment