The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1910-05-04

given over to much thinking. And
they cannot remove entirely from their
minds the knowledge that once before
they were promised something and that
1t ended with promise.
And for this reason IL will become
necessary, If those in charge of demo-
cratic affairs hope TO rally to their sup
port in enthusiastic numbers those to
whom they would appeal by their plat
form declarations, that they give some
positive assurance that their promises
will be kept. There are many men in
the ranks of organized labor in this
state who in years gone by have stood
loyalty by the democratic party. believ-
ing that through IL more could be
hoped for than through any other, who
have arrived at the same point of view
as has Governor Marshall. that a po-
litical party is but the means TO an
end: an agency through which can be
accomplished those things that appear
necessary to the well being of our af-
fairs, and that it becomes the duty of
the party placed in power honorably to
discharge It's obligations.
Against Watson and Taft.
1t is a fact, also, that if 1t had not
been for the support which organized
last campaign the democrats could not
have carried Indiana. Organized labor
made a vigorous campaign in this state
again James e. Watson. Republican
candidate for governor, because of the
way he voted on certain bills in con-
gress. Labor said Watson voted against
its interests. Organized labor cam
paigned against Taft as a candidate for
President, because. 1t declared, he had.
while a United States Judge, used the
writ of injunction when it should not
have been used in labor disputes.
The Indiana state federation of labor
brought Samuel Gompers and other
labor leaders from over the country
into Indiana and conducted a whir1wind
camapign during the latter days of the
1908 campaign They sent Gompers
through the state on special trains and
special cars and he made dozens of
speeches against Watson and Taft.
Watson was defeated and Taft carried
the state by only a small plurality.
Labor took to itself the credit for hav-
ing brought about this result, and it
was entitled to the credit. without a
doubt.
The democrats had made promises
to organized labor that they would do
certain things in the legislature If labor
V ould help the democrats to carry the
state. Labor helped to carry the state
and then the democrats refused to carry
out their part of the agreement. Rep
resentatives of union labor were at the
state house throughout the session of
the legislature, and they did their best
to get the democrats to redeem their
p edges, but they failed. Not a single
thing did the democratic majority give
union labor that they had promised to
give.
The labor people became sore over
I he treatment they had received at the
hands of the democrats. So sore and
mad were they, in fact. that after the
ho, Sc had turned down some one of
the propositions favored by labor rep
resentatives of organized labor an
nounced that they would form a new
party and undertake to right their own
wrongs. They said they could no
longer have any faith in political
that they would organize a party that
would do something for labor.
1t was announced that the new labor
PARTY would be launched in time to
take part in the Indianapolis city cam
paign. but the plan was abandoned
after a while and nothing ever came of
it. However, organized labor has not
forgotten the double cross which the
democrats gave it in the legislature. 1t
has lost faith in democratic promises,
as is shown by the editorial in the
Union. This paper circulates all over
the state, and its influence is wide. 1t
speaks officially for its organization.