The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-06-19

6AOJ1, 49, pSAlacaYs.s QU6eIlOuSSAn OAAOn4
meetings, and no doubt their opposi-
tion was well grounded 1t was not
to be expected that the first change
Of sentiment would DO unanimous.
Large numbers, while not in favor OF
the new idea, were indifferent and
skeptical as to the results, causing 4
labor's efforts to fail in many in-
stances. sss3f Y & II *}ss s Ess
It became apparent, however. that
after the first fight some Of the polls
tictans sat up and took notice. In its
report Of the s58th congress. the Leg
islattve committee Of thea. r. Of L,
concluded its report with these words.
1T is with some degree Of pleasure
that we report that in innumerab1e
instances, when presenting our argu-
ments to the members OF congress-,
there has been "a perceptable change
in their demeanor, the manner in
which we have been received and In
their attention given U.s. s.& M
Leaders Not Discouraged.
That the leaders in the labor move
ment were not discouraged was evil,
denced by the hearty response to the
Of the American Federation OF Labor,
for a conference OF officers Of the.
national and international unions,
which was held In Washington, ID. c..
in March 1908, and at which 1abor's
famous protest, was framed and pre-
scented to congress i
The representatives Of lib national
and internationaI unions, acting with
representatives Of the Farmers So
Of tbs Railway Brotterhoods Joined
In that memorable declaration of La
bor's Independence. .5..,.
With the decision OF T.. the United
States supreme Court in the Danbury
Hatter's case fresh from, the bench;
with injunctfohs SURROUNDING and
binding laboPs hand at every turn;
with the naughty. and arrogant, rep
resentatives Of Trusts and monopolies
opposing every effort to secure rem
edial legislation and with the EN-
ployer's Association devoting millions
Of dollars to defeat every aim and OBJ
well have been discouraged, and it's
leaders pardoned had they given UP
the contest In. dis1nay. r. a..
But ever uauntless these tried gen
erals Of many an Industrial battle
field, hurled their very. defiance into
the teeth Of our enemies. In lang
/; uage plain, firm, unmistakable but
courteous, they presented the demands
of labor: to the leaders Of congress
and urged the: passage Of the import
ant legislation. - they had vainly
sought for many. years:
Not Beggars.
They were not beggars, >cring1ng
before a despot but fearless and in
dependent citizens demanding these
laws as q right. s -.
They presented their demands, not
| as political partisans; but as repre-
| sentatives of all the wage earners of
the country. They represented that
they desired this legislation, not for
organized labor, but for all the work.
ers-for ali the people.
They concluded their address by
saying: While no member OF con-
gress or party can evade or avoid his
| or their own Individual or party share
OF responsibility. we aver that the
party in power must and will, by la
Dor. and 1ts sympathizers. be held
primarily responsible for the failure
to give the prompt, full and effective
congressional relief We know to be
within its power. -
: Il was in this. final declaration that
we Of the: rank and file were much
ture: In our political program. To
successfully hold T. party responsible
! it was necessary rs be politically In
! dependent. Party fealty must be for
| gotten; party prejudice relegated; and
! but one thought, the Union principle,
! consistent with our obligation to our
country must be. made to reign SUI
preme in the minds Of the workers.
ITO reward labor's friends and re-
buke its foes" became a duty incum-
! bent upon all our members. Con-
gress adjourned having turned a deaf
| ear to the demands Of labor and then
| To- f,,r
tional convention Of the political par
ties for relief. Hoping against hope
they attended the Republican con-
vention at Chicago. This party was
| In control Of congress, and it was to
it that the threat which concluded
| the protest was made They were re-
| ce1ved with scant courtesy. A few
I meaningless phrases were Incorporate
! ed into their platform, which were in
tended as a sop to labor. The repre-
! sentatfves Of the employers associa-
! lions We're there, and to them and
their proposals the delegates listened.
Instead Of a flat declaration for the
! demands Of labor they declared for a
| law that would give statutory auth
; GRITTY TOR the very worst abuses of the
! writ Of injunction-an authority that
! does not now exist -.
j Turned to Democrats.
Labor then turned to the Demo-
| cratic party. Here they were well
coined, and the Representatives of the
Executive Council of. the American
! Federation Of Labor, and the Railroad
Brotherhoods were given all the nee
essary time to present their gr1ev-
ances and demands. In the construc-
| ton Of Its platform this party incor-
! porated therein ALE the demands OF
! labor, and 1t nominated as its stand
ard bearer a man whose sympthies
for labor were well, known, who had
publicly and fully declared himself In
favor Of the principles. enunciated in
| the platform Of the American Feder-
alton Of Labor. ,:js*H5.s 49,
There was but ones course to pur-
| sue. Minor political parties rad de-
clared more or less plausibly in favor
Of labor's contentions,:e but we were
engaged In an effort. TO secure imme-
mediate + relief; not something in the
| far distant future. So our only hope
| lay in supporting that party which
| met oursviews and which stood some
!, show of success. The officers or the
American Federation took that course
! and urged every working man to do