Denver labor bulletin., 1918-12-21
BY LAURENCE TODD.
(Special Representative The Denver Labor
Bulletin.)


ments published in New York papers
of December 10, to the effect that a
conference of some forty prominent
labor officials at tt . Hotel Continental
in New York City had agreed to with
hold support" from the movement to
establish an independent labor party,
as launched by the Chicago Federation
of Labor and endorsed by unanimous
vote of the convention of the Illinois
State Federation of Labor are denied
by men who were there. No such ac-
tion, or any action, was taken.
New Political Party Opposed.
President Gompers, Secretary Nor
rison and Messrs. Frey and Perkins
of the reconstruction committee ap-
pointed by the executive council of
the American Federation of Labor
went to New York to meet the re-
construction committee and social in
surance committee of the Central Fed
Grated Union, together with number
of state and local labor officials. Mr..
Gompers made speech dealing with
social insurance, reconstruction and
political organization. He expressed
his well-known opposition to the for
nation of any political party by and
for organized labor. Frey and Per-
kins endorsed his statement. The men,
bers of the reconstruction committee
of the New York City Central Feder-
ated Union, who had previously rec
commended that an Independent labor
party be formed in that city, took no
part in the discussion. A call has been
issued by the Central Federated Union
for a political convention, to be COM
posed of two delegates from each To-
cal union in Greater New York and
vicinity, to meet January II and IL to
consider the matter and to draw up a
scheme of organization and a platform
if that course is decided upon.
Bridgeport has organized its own in
dependent labor party, and will Co
operate with the other central and
state labor bodies thruout the coun-
try in promoting the movement on a
national basis. There are signs that
the same action will be taken in many
of the towns where the awards of the
war labor board have created local
industrial revolution.
Nonpartisan League For 1t.
encouragement to the movement
has been given by resolutions adopted
by the national convention of the Ma
tional Nonpartisan League, meeting at
st. Paul on December A. The reso-
lutions read:
"Whereas, The $4,000 organized
working men and women of the city
of Chicago have voted unanimously to
enter politics and wage an aggres-
sive campaign to wrest the control OF
the city and state from the hands of
big business and to promote the adop-
tion of program of fundamental eco
nomic reforms; and
"Whereas, The Chicago Federation
of Labor has proposed to the Illinois
State Federation of Labor a similar
program of economic reform, and has
further proposed that the farmers of
Illinois be invited to join with them
in support of such program; and
"Whereas, The Chicago Federation
of Labor has adopted platform called
'Labor's Fourteen Points, which in
many particulars squares with the pro-
gram of the organized farmers be-
longing to the Farmers National Nom
partisan League, and more specifically
in its demands for public ownership
and operation of railways, steamships,
stock yards, grain elevators, terminal
markets, telegraphs, telephones and all
other public utilities, together with
the naturalization and development OF
mand for the elimination of wasteful
methods and parasitic middlemen and
all profiteers in the creation and dis
tribution of the products of industry
and agriculture, in order that the
actual producers may enjoy the fruits
of their toll, and being in agreement
with its demand for the liquidation of
the national debt and its demand for
the complete restoration at the earliest
possible moment of all fundamental
political rights-free speech, free
press and free assemblage; therefore,
be it
"Resolved, By the national commit
tee of the National Nonpartisan
League in convention assembled, that
we send our hearty greetings to the
organized wage earners of Chicago
and of Illinois, and pledge them our
sympathy and cooperation in their eff
forts to consolidate and increase the
gains for true democracy and for JUS
tice to workers and producers.
Unanimously approved by conven-
ton, by J. D. Ream, Nebraska, master
of State Grange; Dell Patterson,
North Dakota; Jene Hanson, Montana; /;
NJ. L. Amos, Kansas; E. D. Paquin,
Minnesota; A. D. Engle, South Da-
kota; o. NJ. Tronas, Idaho; national
committee"
Woman War Workers.
1t seems a pity to turn from such
evidences of farmer-labor harmony to
meet the issue of the right Of women
to hold jobs after the war, when men
want those jobs. But this problem
of the war-working woman is here,
and there is danger that employers
may use the quarrel between women
and men to undermine the wage stand
ard secured during the war. The Ma
| tional Women's Trade Union League