Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-07-30
LABOR BOLTS
GOMPERS
No Authority to Dictate---At-
tempt to Corral Vote Will
Prove ''lmpotent and I'M
possible"

| IOvC HupOkCut ouu iut'
| possible"
| Especial Correspondence to the REPORTER
| WASHINGTON. d. Cone Samue
Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor, was strenuously
in evidence at the Chicago Republi
can convention. He offered to trade
the labor vote for certain demands to
be incorporated in the party platform,
Then he shifted the scene to the Den.
yer Democratic convention and offered
to contract the same goods over again
for similar price. Now there is
some flirting with Hearst's inde-
pendence party, because it is thought
Mr.. Hearst might indorse some of the
principles advocated by organized
labor.
All this maneuvering tends to cir
culate an impression that in some
secret recess of his suitcase, tightly
covered like toy jack-in-the-box.
Mr.. Gompers holds the vote of every
wage-earner in the country. A per-
| picking political calculation arises.
How much of the real goods can be
actually delivered by this shifting
traveller? Recognized as the chief
mouthpiece of organized workingmen
in the United States on matters per-
tanning to the crafts. to what extent
is he a Moses in the wilderness of poll
tics?
Putting aside!the trayesty play up
on the intelligence of the skilled
workman who knows his own mind
and marks his own American ballot
without need of assistance, it is also
unnecessary to comparatively hint
about the kind of popular confidence
that is placed in men, who go openly
from candidate to candidate Offering
votes in blocks to highest bidders.
In proportion to it's industrial popu-
lation, Washington is conceded to be
the most aggressive and alert union
town in the country. Headquarters
of the American Federation are in
this city, also the home of Mr..
Gompers. All local discussions among
the union men lead at present to poll
tics, and there is much discussion.
General direction of talk seems to in
dicate that most union men will
choose their own natural and usual
affiliations, each political party get
ting somewhat near the normal pro-
portion of its respective, following in
labor ranks.
Mr., Gompers has announced that
he will not attempt to deliver the
labor vote. But he appeals strongly
for labor to faithfully support Bryan
and the Democratic ticket in it's en-
tirety.
During the Chicago convention
headquarters union man remarked:
"Gompers can promise the union vote
to Taft for an Injunction plank if he
likes, but have been a Democrat all
my life and intend to continue voting
that way, regardless
Since the Denver convention an
other good organization man said:
"Gompers is out for Bryan. When
the Democrats were last in power I
was kicked out of my government job
for being Republican, and l was out
six years. Wonder who thinks 1
would vote Democratic ballot just
because Gompers says 500
~ have been a Democrat and a
union man all my life." says another.
eff labor wants to make solid issue
in politics, let US have an out-and-out
labor ticket The trading proclivities
of Mr.. Gompers disgust me, and just
on account of that persuasion I am
surely going to Kentucky to vote for
Taft
Frank A. Kidd, president of Column
bia Typographical union, and promi-
nently known all over the United
States as an enthusiastic worker in
labor circles, objects to the attempt
of Mr.. Gompers to advise the ranks of
labor as:to their political duties. Mr..
Kidd said to-day in published inter-
view:
Probably not 20 per cent of the
members of labor organizations are in
favor of adopting resolutions indorsing
some one political party or condemn
ing some particular national candi-
date for Office. Resolutions
emanating from unions never proceed
upon the assumption that either great
party would nominate a man who is
not patriotic American, worthy the
confidence of all good citizens, and if
elected would serve the people honestly
and courageously according to the re-
quirements of his oath of office.
Nor do these unions judge party
by single plank in the party plat
form, for that platform was never
written that in its entirety was salts
factory to any considerable number of
men, and since the platforms of poll
tical partieS-even The laws of the
land and the government under which
we live and thrive-are the result of
reasonable compromise, they cannot
hope to find the expression of any
party wholly to their liking, but will
support the party that in the es.
sentials of policy as whole seemingly
comes nearest the ideals of the men,
bership
! Trade unionists think alike on
craft questions, but differ widely on
political. social and religious ques-
tion4, and this difference is universally
tolerated by labor bodies in true