The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-11-22

=.
unions, and that, In. their federated
relationship, general political activity
will be given constant and ever-in-
creasing attention. that, with the
complete Organization OF labor in the
economic field, there will be safer
tion and formation Of a political la
Dor party pledged to the conserva-
ton of human rights, whatever the
:party's name may be. =. s:-
Nonpartisan Political Position.
For the present, we recommend
continuation and development of la
boris nonpartisan political position:
namely. that the program and policy
declared by the American Federation
Of Labor as authorized by its con-
vention. through the executive coun-
Gil and the organized workers
throughout the country. be reaf-
firmed, and we urge that this pro-
gram and policy be pursued in sub
seQuent campaigns. j.
= To our fellow workers and fellow
citizens all over North America we
also urge that organized labor's slo-
gan should live in its deeds-stand
faithfully by our friends iand oppose
our enemies-and that members Of
trades unions be nominated and
elected to municipal, county, state,
federal and dominion Offices
The rincipal speakers on the
declaration were Max Hayes, Social
list labor leader, and James Duncan,
first vice president. favoring it, and
George L. Berry. president Of the In
ternational Printing Pressmen's union,
opposed.
Socialists Against Alliances.
Hayes said the Socialist party
would require modification of the So
cialist platform. ....
Two resolutions that brought up
the religious questions, as influencing
the formation of Christian trades
union In: Europe, were speedily de-
feated. the resolutions committee de-
claring that:
Nothing could be more injurious
to the labor movement than the in
lection of sectarian religious mat
JEFF Davis, president of the Itiner-
ant workers. unon, known as the
Hobo King" was introduced to the
convention and besought it's aid in
obtaining the repeal of all vagrancy
laws. His talk was full of "hobo"
-S 04AN nOpk IAe duu10LCG IN a. roar
OF Laughter. He declared there were
FL locals controlling 100000 mem
bers. and that all itinerants were
pledged never to work as strike
breakers or to assist strike-breaxers.
Wilson Arouses Nation.
The speech made last week bv Sec
retary Of Labor w. 3. Wilson was
the talk of the nation. Conservative
and standpat papers pretend to be
trightfully shocked at the extreme
position of a member of the cabinet
OF the president of the United States.
1t was SO unusual. They fail to reckon
we are living in the year 1918. We
probably will hear something more
startling next year. and it will be
more so the year after. BY that time
the sacred wall built around private
property will be so crumbled we will
be able to climb with ease over it's
scattered stones.
The delegates in the convention.
after dfgesting the speech, began to
realize that Calumet & Heckla, the
richest copper mine in the world, was
not SO secure in its property deed as
1t would like to be. President Com
AAs.u "ScAi uSltiHS INTO some an
cfent political history. He found. that
Calumet & Heckla had secured a
grant for certain lands in the upper
peninsula Of Michigan under condi-
zion that the company would build a
canal, which has not yet been built.
Its failure to live up to its contract.
VINO knows, might yet invalidate the
so-called sacred title of the company.
Anyway, the convention thought it
worth while to demand an investiga-
ton, and a resolution was adopted
asking congress to turn the search
light of public inquiry upon Calumet
& Heckla.
The election of officers will occur
Saturday. President Gompers will
probably be reelected, that is, if he
wants the office for another year.
John Mitchell is to retire from the
executive council. William d. Huber
may also retire. With these excep-
tons all of the old officers will be
elected.