The state herald., 1908-09-18
His Effort to Throw" the Trade
Union Vote to Bryan Doing
Infinite Harm.
THAT BUSINESS" CONFERENCE.
The Labor Press and Leaders of
Country Unmask President of the
Federation as q Democrat and
Free Trader Fighting to De-
feat the Best Friends of
tho Workingman.

II will he exceedingly interesting to
wage workers and tIc public In
general TO know how strongly the pO-
litical course of President Gompers,
of the American Federation of Labor,
is being opposed by the labor press
and trade union leaders of the coun-
try. Since the fact has become known
that President Gompers has had n
real business" conference with Mr..
Mack, manager Of the Bryan cam
raign, the opposition of organized
labor to President Gompers' effort 10
throw tle trade union vote over To
Bryan Is still all the stronger. There
no longer remains any doubt that
President Gompers has arranged with
the Democratic party to Try to force
the labor vote 10 Bryan, and that de
spite the fact that he, GOmpcrs, is at
the head of n trade union organiza-
tion OF non.political nature, ne Is,
as an official of that trade union, using
his time, paid for by the union,
and the union machinery in further.
ing the success of Il partisan political
party. IN doing this lie is going con
trary To all precedent, either In this
country or In England. lie is a Dem,
Ocrat and free trader and as such
has put himself ON record as hgdtlns
TO defeat the best friends American
labor ever had In the history of the
Nation.
While many Of the labor papers re-.
main non-commital ON the question.
most of the Important ones oppose
the policy Of President Gompers. OF
course the out and out Democratic
papers will lean toward Bryan.
The Toledo Union Leader has
strongly opposed the Gompers slogan
To reward your friends aud punish
yuur enemies" II declares that the
policy Is Ineffective aud is likely TO do
more damage To the unions than
good. The Leader has consistently
stood FOR direct action through n
Labor party or the Socialist party and
Is at present delivering hammer blows
FOR the legislative ticket of the Social
lst party which was endorsed by rrr
crcndum vote uf the local unions
The Akron People rips the anti.
injunction prctcnses of the Democratic
party Into mttrrs, aud polnis out tu
G0mpcrs the utter nbsurlity of plal-
ing any reliance IN party that dc
clarcs Ia favor OF restricting inImr
iions In one plank aud follows It up
with a declaration that 1T Is the func
tlon of the courts to Interpret thc Law,
which the people create"
The GAINESVILLE Labor Journal con
cludcs that labor is confronted by mr
greater questions than inJunctlons,
aud that the labor vote has never been
delivered or deliverable by any man or
set Of men"
The Brewers Journal nf Cincinnati,
rldlculcs the growing tamencss Ut
Bryan. declaring that he IL M mora
feared. and calls upon the working
people 10 stand by worklugmcn In the
coming election, something Gompcrs
win not do,
The Switchmcn's Journal, printed at
Bunnlo, opposes Gompors.
'fhc Bakers Journal, published In
Chicago. In behalf Of In readers Fem
phnilmlly protests against having our
international organization clnsscd With
those who work and vote Tor tdc sue
cess Of the Democratic Ticket"
The Stove Mouutcrs Journal. OF Dr.
trlot. dlsnlsscs the subject with She
conclusion; THESE nrc the tlnra Tho
workingmpn Ind themselves close TO
the hearts Of the Republican aud
Dcmocmiic parties After election
tieir usual position will be- assumed
again
The Pueblo tCnlol Union Label
Bulletin REMARKS thht "liro Gompcrs
expresses hims"lf ns highly pleased
with the Democratic labor program.
but from this distance We fail TO sea
anything 10 Fnt particularly onthusi,
nstic about We arr presented with
the same old alternative OF choosing
the lesser of two evils, VITA mighty
little choice In the natter
The Piano and Organ Workers
Olliclnl Journal, printed In Chicago,
edited hy Secretary Dold. formerly
President Of the Chicago Federation OF
Labor, snyH In pHrt speaking of
Gonpcrs' action urging union people
Ia support liryau and the Democratic
pnrtyi
As nm excuse for his unusual. un,
constitutional and heretofore mhrnrd
of procedure be- offers the labor plank
recently ndppiei BY the Democrats al
tapir Denver convention
eve drpni IT iu be- our duty 20 enter
most emphatic protest against this,
q most Wnul1n disregard for we'll
established trades union law aud eth
irs.
"'lhr constitution " the A. y. Of 4.
fori,idu participation IN party politics
"t'rrsidrut gumurra must aud dnos