Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-30

An I'M American situation. No relief was
either declared or promised.
Labor asked the republican convention
for bread. and 1t gave II a stone.
THE Van Cleaves and the republican
press In phrase and cartoon .sneer1ngly
told labor to Go to Denver Well we
did; and we shall tell what happened
there.
Pleased After Denver.
Each member of the executive council
at Denver i'm interviews with the press
just following the democratic convention
g;> expressions of qualification and APP
E-oval in regard to the platform adopted.
re desire to repeat here that we be-
Sfve that the whole mass of the workers
of the country will respond I'm hearty
sympathy with the democratic party in
the coming campaign as a result of its
action in the la Dor planks Of the platform.
They will be Of practical beneht to the
workers
we have no hesitation in urging the
workers and our friends throughout the
country to support the party in this cam
pafgn which has shown it's sympathy with
our wrongs and its desire to remedy them
and to see that the rights OF the people
are restored.
We say this not necessarily because
it is the democratic party which has
done this. We would urge the Work
ers to support any parry WIN, wnen ,,s nau Mat ~
form and promised to work Tor tnelr
fulillment.
"A deliberate attempt Is being made
by the opposition press to maze II appear
that 'Gompers has promised TO denver
the labor vote to the democratic vote
''Such statement is so absurd as TO
hardly need refutation. We recognize
the absolute right of every citizen TO
hi candidate
any party that he pleases Far De II
from us to attempt to coerce the woes
of the workers, nor are We so asinine
as to promise to deliver the LABOR
Suggestion, Not Demand.
But we do. in all seriousness. urge
the workers and all good citizens to
consider most carefully and thoughfuily
the attitude of the two great political
parties toward the fundamental rights
and principles embodied in labor's de-
uands Study their respective plat
forms and then vote as conscience olc-
tates.
ION the one hand We have republican
Congress absolutely refusing to enact tns
demands of the workers for right ana
equitable legislation and boasting that II
is willing to take the consequences. roi-
lowing this action of Congress we nav
the convention of the republican party
scornjng labor's demands and adopting
so-called injunction plank winch IS an
insult to the intelligence of every voter IN
this land plank which declares TOT tne
continuance and perpetuation OF the abuse
of the injunction process IN lts ar ally
application to labor disputes.
. The republican party definitely hnes
I'D with the corporate interests OF tne
country and def1es the people TO heiP
themselves On the other hand. the demo-
cratic party indorses labors demands ana
pledges itself to carry them into enect II
1t is put into power.
We earnestly ask the workers ana
their friends to make the choice which
is in accordance with their best inter-
eets. We ask them to remember their
moral obligation to cast their votes for
those who will protect and defend their
rights If they fail to do so. they will
have to reckon with even a worse con-
dition of affairs than now obtains.
We feel that we need not do donor, more
The workers and their friends have had
experience in the past year OF what the
party now In power can DO ana intenos
to do The very feeling of outrage ana
Indignation which prompted the decision
of the workers to use their political power
to protect themselves. will guide them as
>to how to cast their votes. They Will
elect their friends and defeat their enc
mics.
Workers Will Understand. :,
MANY central labor bodies throughout
the country are taking similar action.
While, as we have distinctly stated. There
is no effort being made by 'Gompers to
deliver the labor vote to the democratic
party yet. even in the brief time which
has elapsed since the two great party
eonventfons. there - every indication that
the workers throughout. the country most
heartily inAorse the action OF the officers
Of the American Federation Of Labor in
OH that they have said and done in mat
fsrs political 't
."whfie we do not wish in any way to
interfere with each mans right to choose
his own political Affiliations. yet we say
frankly that the worker who. in this
campaign. supports the party or the can
didate who has contemptuously and
boastfully announced hostility to labor's
interests-well, be will have to reckon
with HIS own conscience and with his fell
how workfnen!
"rhe spontaneous. enthusiastic and
sympathetic support Of the workers is duo
to the fact that the officers Of the Ameri-
gan Federation of Labor have in all their
acts strictly adhered to the declared pol
Icy OF the trade union movement.
elm accordance with the action OF Ia
boris protest conference held last March
we now call upon the workers Of our COM
mon country to stand faithfully by our
friends. oppose and defeat our enemies,
whether they be candidates for President.
for Congress or other Offices. whether ex-
ecutive. legislative or judicial.
What has, been done SO far Is In line
with the determination thus expressed
We would fail in the duty intrusted to us
did we do less.
I'VE now urge upon the workers to take
up the eampign with the utmost enthu-
siasm and energy. Scan every candidates
record: study his party platform. Be not
deceived by vague. unofficial. plausible
assurances of friendship. Let partisan
Affiliations be cast aside In the great
struggle to preserve our rights and our
freedom.
Already the campaign of lying and
-misrep resentation Is in full swing Labor's
attitude and that of its representatives 10
falsely stated. Wrong conclusions are
,purposely drawn in order to mislead labor
and its friends from the concerted action
which viii tend to protect and preserve
our industrial and civic rights.
Hark to the Motive.
I'VE trust that the knowledge Of the
motive behind such statements and the
application of ordinary common sense on
the part OF the people will be suf1cient to
render harmless the lying attacks from
any quarter.
Wherever a man decries and discour-
ages the effort of the workers to unite
and use their political power. scan his
motives: they are not diflicult to discern.
In the old fable the bray of the ass be-
trayed the poor. deluded quadrupAd who