The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-02-27
NATIONAL
CAMPAIGN
Fight on Labor's Enemies Will
be Conducted on Same Lines as
During the Last Congressional
Election.

The proposition which comes from
leaders of the national labor movement
in New York, Chicago, and other indus,
trial centers for the formation of an
independent labor party to participate
in the state and national elections seems
to meet with little or no encouragement
from organized labor men who are think
ers of this section. The fact is the prop
sition is not looked upon seriously here,
says our Washington correspondent
President Gompers and the other Off
Gals of the American Federation of
Labor have expressed no public or Of
hclal opinion as to the merits of the
proposition. The idea is not a new one
ny any means, years ago such move
ment having been launched by organ
lzed labor under the name of several
parties which appealed to the labor move.
ment, but in each instance resulted prac-
tically in nothing The silence of the
officials of the American Federation of
Labor in this connection is taken as sig
nificant. 1t is not believed that these
leaders OF the great national labor move
ment, in the absence of authority from
delegated representatives, in convention
assembled would contemplate giving the
proposition serious consideration or make
any expression of opinion officially or
otherwise.
Whatever views that President Com
pers may entertain as to this proposed
party he is automatically silent. Prob
ably no man in the labor movement b,
long experience and sound, ripe iudg
ment is III better position to pass upor
the merits of this or similar move
ment, but it is not believed, in view O.
the TACT that he is sphynxlike silent O,
the subject, that he would give his ap
prevail OF any such proposition, but woul,
rather favor the like of political cam
palgn conducted by him and his orpani
cation in the last congressional electio,
which met with the unanimous indorsc
ment of his executive officers and thu
american Federation of Labor conyen
ton. Just what position the America,
Federation of Labor will take in fin
coming Presidential election remains +,
be seen, but that the organization will b.
AZ eiiS ~ III SOIuc lOIm or other
foregone conclusion.
The political movement started bv th
American Federation of Labor in th
last Congressional election was only tn
INITIAL step to a greater and more 40
gresslve movement to muster the labo
vote at the polls. But it is the opinion
OF the labor leaders at the National Can
ltal that whatever position in the ma
tional election that the American FEEDER
alton of Labor takes will be as an or
ganlzatlon and not having to do Wit
any movement that seeks to form a ma
tlonal independent labor party. Will
there is no authority for the statement
it is believed that President Gomper
will have something to say editoriallv il
the March number of The American Fed
erationist on this subject. If he does i
will be interesting
The history of Independent labor par
ties in the past is not encouraging 10
the formation of such movements now o
in the future. It is well recognize,
proposition by capital, as well as labor
that if the labor vote with its million
of voters could be amalgamated at tn
polls it would be the balance of powe
from the suffragist standpoint in deter