The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1916-09-15
Records of the Presidential Candidates
Washington. D. c.

Washington, d. c.
Mr.. H. o. McClurg, Secretary, Labor 5
Volunteer Cooperative Citizenship
and Educational Committee, P. O.
Box 479, Birmingham, Alabama.
Dear Sir and Brother;
Your favors Of July II and July 20,
addressed to Mr. Frank Morrison
secretary of the American Federation
of Labor, have been turned over to us
for reply. In your favor of July II
you ask:
will you kindly give us the
labor record of the candidates
who are offering for the presi-
dency of the United States. Our
committee investigates the record
of all men who offer for public
office in which labor is interested.
These records are all compiled
and then given to the membership
Of organized labor without com
ment whatever allowing the mem
bers to select according to the
record that the various candidates
have made themselves"
Replying to the above query and
statement, we feel it is due you and
the members Of your organization to
say that in our opinion you have
taken the correct attitude and if you
maintain your service on a rigid non
partisan basis, such as you describe,
you will find that the influence of
your organization will always prove
helpful to the best interests of all the
people
The legislative record of the Hon
orable Woodrow Wilson democratic
nominee for president, in regard to
labor measures that have come before
him for action during his incumbency
in the office of president, since March
4, 1918, is as follows:
President Wilson's Record
One of the first acts of the presi-
denton March 4, 1913-was to ap-
point a member in good standing of
the trade union movement, Honorable
William B. Wilson, a member and
former secretary of the United Mine
Workers of America, secretary of the
Department of Labor, thereby making
him a member Of the presidents cab
met. This is the first instance in the
history of the United States where the
president of the United States Sc
lected bona fide good standing mem
Der of the organized labor movement
to become a member of his cabinet
At the request of the executive
council of the American Federation of
Labor, President Wilson appointed, on
September 10, 1918, representatives of
the American Federation of Labor and
the railroad brotherhoods as members
of the Industrial Relations Commits
sion, Mr.. James OConnell, vice presi
dent of the American Federation OF
Labor; Mr. John B. Lennon, treasurer
of the American Federation of Labor,
and Mr.. Austin B. Garretson, grand
chief conductor of the Order of Rail
road Conductors.
On October Is, 1914-President Will
son approved the law which takes the
organizations of labor and the farmers
organizations from the purview of the
antitrust act; limits the use and pre-
vents the abuse of the writ of in
junction in labor disputes; defines and
restricts punishment for alleged con
tempts of injunction writs and pro-
vides jury trial in contempt cases.
On June %, 1913-The law prohibit
ing the Department of Justice from
using antitrust appropriation funds to
prosecute labor and farmers organiza-
tons under the antitrust act, was
apprved.
On August l. 1s14-The same was
again approved
On March 3, 1915-The same was
approved
On March 4, 1915-The president
approved the Seamen's law. which
abolishes involuntary servitude, pro-
vides better treatment of seamen and
improves the life-saving provisions on
vessels at sea.
On July Is, 1913-The old concilia-
ton, mediation and arbitration act
was repealed, and the new law enacted
with permanent officials appointed to
administer it in behalf of railroad EN-
ployes engaged in operating service.
On February "a, 1914-The Eight
hour law was enacted for women and
child workers of the District of Colum.
bia Decided constitutional March
10, 1915, by the Supreme Court Of the
District of Columbia)
On October 20, 1914-The Eight-hour
DrOyisiOu was aDDroved for amnlovas