The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-11-11
A. F. OF L. CONVENTION


veatIon at Toronto, Canada
1 ne place OF meeting Il II ic.rif sIg-
H!HeaHt- Reference has been made IL
tHsse columns 10 The Vaccinations OF Ca
aadIan and American capitalists, aiming
al 7eTeEtng rhe labOr movement OF Can
ada from that OF Ine Cnited states Their
Object IL, OF course, 10 weaken the labor
movement in both countries, but par-
ticu4ar!y IL Canada, where It IL younger
and less developed BY holding it's con
'sntion on Canadian soil the =. F. of l.
series notice upon these capitalists that
II Is resolved upon maintaining the unity
American Continent
The convention VIII have TO deal with
several subjects OF the utmost import
ance 10 American labor. II is therefore
10 BE- hoped that the jurisdiction fights,
winch III the past took up 50 much OF
the time OF A +. Of L. conventions,
"IA be Ee!egated TO the rear or be per
tnanentIy put out Of the way by a con
so!Idation of trade unions in related an
fLstr!es, and that the really grave situa
ton IN which American labor now finds
itself will receive the attention it de
serves.
Above all it is our hope, as we'll as the
nope of every well wisher OF organized
labor, that the delegates 70 the conven-
ton wil arrive at Il full realization of
the fact that every important problem
with which they confronted is in its
essence L political problem and cannot
be solved without the united effort of the
working class in the political field.
Government by injunction, the outIawry
OF the boycott, the application of the
Sherman Antitrust law to-that is
against-trade unions, employers liabiI-
ity, eight-hour Legislation, restriction Of
! female and child labor-every one of
| these subjects can be effectively dealt
with only through political action.
That this is 50 mas been di.nly recog-
nizcd even in the past. Lobbies have
been maintained in Washington as well
as in the state capitals. Appeals have
been made to both OF the dominant po-
iitIcal parties in turn. And indeed in
earlier years something vas gained in
this way, in however modest and made
Iuatc measure.
But Of late years the obstacles to fur
| ther advance by this method have become
absolutely insuperable. The influence of
the great capitalists has become over
whelmiug and irresistible in the two old
parties and in every department of the
government. The courts. in particular,
have become the very bulwark of capt
| taiist rule, throwing into the shade and
dominating every other branch of the
government.
The problem of the growth of the court
tyranny and OF the way to resist it and
70 push back the power of the courts
within its original and proper limits is
bound TO become the central problem of
the American labor movement
Every effort at improving the condition
Of labor has met with the resistance of
| the courts. The tyranny of the courts.
| their assumption of superiority to every
other branch of the government, must
therefore be made the central object of
attack
Every important law wrested from an
| unwilling Congress and unwilling state
| legislatures has been nullified by the
courts. The usurped power Of the courts
t" annul Legislation by declaring it un-
constitutional must therefore be nullifed
in it's turn.
The process of usurpation has been a
slow and gradual one. Nor do we assume
| that the usurpcd powers of the courts can
b" won back from them for the people and
the people $ representatives in one short,
sharp campaign. But the determined, or
gained resistance of the workers cannot
fail to tell i'll the long run. Moreover, it
VIII act AS Il brake upon any further ex-
tension Of court power and prerogative
delegates to the convention, YOU meet
IN Il time of crisis, one that truly tries
men s souls. The eyes of the WORKING
class of America-yea, of the world-are
upon you. May YOU be found equal to
he great occasion. May your labors re
dound to the advancement of the cause
of labor, which is that of humanity. in
this as well in other lands.-Ncu York
CUH.
According to some of the courts it is
unlawful for 1uv to ,n,Lo .,n