The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-10-28
G0M J! URGES
UNIONS CONSIDER
Ii: ELECTION: !. il ISSUES
waahineton,,D p. g. Oct. H.: 1915. F.,
To the Officers :, Of ,. All organized

washington, D, e.: Oct. IL. 1916. :: ::
To the OFFICERS :. OF, All organized
! Labor: j.. .~ -
Greeting:.- Never at. any time with
in the last 90 years have the, workers
had more at stake = in any political
campaign than in the one that is to
be decided ~in the election November
7th. 49,.
During. the present. administration
and particularly. in this, campaign
there has been developed. "a %clear-cut
issue between the workers--the pro-
ducers---and those who manipulate
the products of the labor OF Others
the exploiters. 80
The issue ts represented in the cam
paign by the conflicting interests rep
resentcl by Labor and Wall Street
| Labor represents the masses Of the
| nation, their rights as human beings,
| the possibilities and the ideals of
human development. Wall Street rep
resents the powers OF greed and ex-
! ploitation that have :mercilessly used
! human beings in order to pile up vast
! unearned fortunes and to carry out
their purposes Of restricting the rights
| ~AAA OPPoA SuAAASACo AOA AAACAA W "OA n
and enjoy the products of their toll.
During the present administration
the organized labor movement has
been able to secure recognition for
| the rights Of human beings and op-
| portunity for all to- participate in the
affairs Of the nation in a degree that
has never before been accomplished.
The dignity of human life and the
! value of the cooperation Of those
| whose work is necessary to the pro-
| cesses Of inductry and commerce have
been given an important place in con-
sidering all problems that concern the
| nation. This recognition has taken
the form Of legislation necessary to
protect the interests Of wage-earners
and in the ideals of humanity that
have guided and directed national
policies both at home and in our re-
| lations with other nations.
Though half of the world has been
| involved In terrific conflict and it
seemed at times as though our nation
must be drawn into the vortex Of
human slaughter, yet the chief execu-
tive Of our land has been able to man
age the affairs of the nation and the
11ALSA SoIS VI OuI ClllZcHS 80 LfldC I1CU-
out the horrors of war he has estab-
| lished and maintained protection Of
| human life and human rights in the
somewhat vague domain of interna-
tional law. Without involving this
nation in war, he has secured for us
all of the protection and all of the
benefits that =: would have accrued
from successful international war,
and by diplomatic correspondence.
has achieved the victory of embody-
ing concepts Of humanity in interna-
tional activity, at. least in So. far as
America is concerned.
It is impossible to give the full list
of remedial and protective legislation
that carries it's beneficfent influences
into the homes of millions of Ameri-
cas- workers. w can only refer to
that change in the spirit Of the ma
ton that is of more consequence than
statutory enactment, with broader ap-
probation of the rights Of humanity
and the value Of the human relation
ships necessary in the coordination
which is the basis for industry and
commerce. It is as If the national
thought and the national spirit had
been humanized and had become SEN
sitive not only to injustice but to the
rights and opportunities that ought to
be accorded to all human beings. The
issue is clear-cut.
On November 7th--E!ection Day.
a decision will be made which will de-
termine the future developmnt of our
country end the spirit of our national
life for years to come.
AS representatives of the organized
labor movement, which is the militant
protective organization Of all the
workers and which stands primarily
for human rights, we urge that the
issues be considered at q regular or
special meeting held. by your organi-
zation.
The meeting should be a general
one, and, If necessary, called specially
for the purpose of seeing that those
| who have so much at stake should go
to the polls to protect their interests.
There is no doubt that the interests
of Wall S. eet and their satellites all
over the country, are and will continue
their activity to retain the special
privileges and power that they have
secretively and corruptly stolen from
II1c pVOpl0.
While property must be protected
and respected; man-men, women and
children, human beings-must have
the first consideration:
Wage-earners can not afford to lose
their rights and opportunities through
negligence and inactioh. -
Meet, discuss; the great issues to be
decided on Election Day, November
7th, and then go,'to the polls. cast
your vote'':as your conscience directs
| for Labor, justice. freedom and hui
mainly. = 3: ''''~':'s :" -.
'"-' ~Fraternally yours.
SAML. GOMPERS,
=: Pfesident;:A. r. Of L.
- JAs::~ O'CONNELL. 2&-''
~::Vice- P resident, A F. of.
-~ Secretary, "A. F. of L.
FRANK MORRISON,
Labor Representation Co1nmit tee
American Federation Of Iab Dor.
TWIN CITY TAIL0RS',..'.'
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