The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-08-01
GOmpers' Advice to Labor.

dent of the American Federation of Labor,
mends the democratic national ticket and platform
to the voters of organized labor.
Republican newspapers have stated, with careless
disregard for the truth, that "Mr Gompers has
promised to deliver the labor vote to the democratic
party" To this charge Mr.. Gompers excerpts in his
article in the The Federationist saying:
"Such statement is so absurd to hardly need
refutaon We recognize the absolute right OF every
citizen to cast his vote for any candidate and with
any party that he pleases.
Mr.. Gompers presents an argument in behalf of the
democratic platform and ticket believing it to be to
the interest of organized labor that both should
prevail. He will strive to convince the voters of
the laboring class that it will be advantageous for
them to sustain the cause of their political friends
and place them in position in which they can full
fill their promises by the enactment and enforcement
of legislation for the protection of organized labor
Beyond argument, Mr.. Gompers will not go in the
exercise of his influence though he will undoubtedly
vote the democratic ticket himself.
In his opening article in The Federationist Mr..
Gompers gives the history of his appeal to national
conventions for recognition of the demands of labor
stating that he went first to the republican conven-
ton at Chicago
He says the plank given him by that convention
was "a fimsy tricky evasion of the issue-an en-
dorsement of the very abuse against which labor
Justly protests" One which would if enacted give
statutory authority for the issuance of njunctons
in labor disputes, authority which does not now
exist"
The legislation promised in the republican plat
form, Mr.. Gompers Declares would make more
acute the wrongs by which the oilers are forced to
bear the unjust judicial burden of injunction dis
elimination" The republican convention therefore
sought to strengthen injunction discrimination rather
than destroy or palliate it.
Mr. Gompers considers the plank of the republi-
platform that upholds the authority and integ-
ry of the courts to be "a gratuitous ndefensble and
covert insult, not only to of labor, but to the
courts themselves, implying that the integrity and
legal authority of the courts have been questioned"
He probably understands that the republican con-
vention, controlled absolutely by the elements that
are antagonistc to labor unable to espouse his
cause but he feels that it might have omitted the in
suit to the several million men who had authorized
him to represent them.
Concluding the account of his representations to
the republican convention Mr. Gompers turns to his
mission with the national democratic convention at
Denver and the that there crowned his labors
He quotes the labor planks adopted by the demo-
cratic convention, following then with these COM
ments:
1--WE believe that the whole mass of the workers
of the country will respond in hearty sympathy with
the democratic party in the coming campaign, as
result Of its action in the labor planks of the plat
form. They will be of practical benefit to the
workers.
1--WE have no hesitation in urging the workers and
our friends throughout the country to support the
party IN this campaign which has shown its SYM
pathy with our wrongs and its desire to remedy Them
and to that the rights of the people restored
I'VE say this, not necessarily because it is the
Democratic party which has done this. We would
urge the workers to support any party which had
our demands into its platform and
promised to work for their fufllment."
Mr.. Gompers asks members and friends of or