Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-11-05
PARTISAN POLITICS
OF LABOR SCORED
Teachers Union Strongly Dis
approves Federation's Sup
port of President Wilson.
WRITES TO Mr.. GoMPERs

Partisan politics on the part OF organ
lied labor came in for criticism last night
when one local union affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor. the High
School Teachers Union, expressed stern
disapproval Of the action of that body.
through its officers and legislative coun-
Gil, in urging by direct inference the re-
election of President Wilson Eho.ts were
also made by certain officers and men,
bers of another big local, the Federal EN-
ployes' Union. to bring about the adop-
ton of similar resolutions, but the attempt
was brought to naught by the arguments
of other members acting on the safety
first" principle.
The High School Teachers Union. by
its president, Roy c. Claflin, In letter
addressed to President Gompers ex.
pressed sincere regret that the great
national labor organization should have
been drawn into the political cam
paign," and voiced the belief that that
organization should be above political
partisanship, and that its greatest use
fulness can be attained only through
non-partisanship."
"Cause Of Labor May Be Injured"
I'VE believe" the letter stated, that
the cause of labor may be materially
injured by the fact that its leaders
are endeavoring to align the millions
Of labor votes behind one of the tickets
in a national election. 1t would have
seemed entirely proper for those Off
cials to have exerted their efforts as
a personal matter; but for them to use
the official channels. offices, money and
advantages of the Federation of Labor
to further the interests of one candi-
date is obviously unfair to the great
numbers of organized labor men whose
political views differ from the views
of yourself president Gompers) and
official associates"
Mr.. Clafin's letter stated that in the
High School Teachers Union lit is
not alone the Hughes members who
protest having the Federation of Labor
drawn into politics. but it is just as
strongly resented by those members
who favor the reelection of President
Wilson, the latter numbering about 2(
per cent of our total membership. this
estimate being based on an informal
canvass of the individual members"
President Clafin's Letter.
I'VE are a newly affiliated body
President Clafiin's letter continued
"and it was my first judgment that
like new member of Congress, we
should be seen and not heard How
ever. the sentiment as expressed in this
letter is SO general in our organisa
tion,- and the protests 20 strong. that j
feel obliged in fairness to our mem
bership to give this Expression to oui
views.
"In afiiiating with the Central Labor
Union of washington and with the
Federation Of Labor our official repre-
sentatives took an obligation Of ale
glance on behalf Of our union in which
it was granted that our afiiliation
things, with our politics. Needless to
say then we were, as an organization,
surprised to be drawn into politics and
officially aligned on one side against
the other without our consent and
without being consulted.
I'VE protest In no spirit OF rebellion.
but in spirit of constructive criticism
for the good of the great labor move
ment. In afiliating with the federation
we realized that We did not surrender
our independence of thought as a con-
stituent body. and it is this freedom
that we are now exercising. 1t is be-
cause We are devoted to the cause OF
labor and anxious for it to succeed tn t
We are interested enough to make this
protest
Federal Employees Reject Resolution.
At secret meeting of the board of rep
resentatives of the Federal Employees
Commerce expression by resolution Of dis
approval of the action of the American
Federation of Labor officials was sought
After extended argument, however, the
resolution condemning the effort to de
liver" the labor vote to the incumbent of
he nft tod
middle of the road resolution being
adopted by practically unanimous vote Of
the representatives present, nearly 100 in
number
The resolution finally adopted recited
the public impression gained through
the press that President Gompers had
specifically requested all union men,
bers to support President Wilson.
which impression. the resolution said.
was erroneous 1t was further recited
that in view of the fact that govern
ment employees are prohibited by civil
service regulations from taking any
active part in political campaigns.
therefore, the Federal Employees Union.
while recognizing the great influence
of the American Federation of Labor
as exerted in behalf of the federal en-
ployes, for which the union felt CRATE
full. should take an absolutely nom
partisan stand in the present campaign
and should take no official action as a
union toward indorSing any candidate
for public office.
The meeting was attended by prac-
tically all of the members of the board
of representatives. representing a total
membership in the local organization
of more than 5000. or more than five
sevenths of the total membership of
all federal employees unions through
out the United States. After the roll
call and brief discussion of routine
business the meeting was adjourned
SO that discussion of resolutions of a
political nature might not occur at
regular or called meeting of the rep
resentativeS in their official capacity
SEA LIFE TRAINING OFFERED