The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-09
ORGANIZED LABOR
 THROWS HAT INTO THE POLITICAL RING
Ccontinued From Page One)


 pealed for relief in vain.
 The hour has arrived when those who believe in the maintenance of democratic institutions must marshal their forces in defense of their rights and ideals. RESTRICTION OF LIBERTY Tt is intolerable that a people who spared no cost to make the world safe for democracy should be forced to submit to any restriction of the glorious liberties inherited from the founders of our nation. l "The approximation of our fundamental rights and the enactment of essential constructive legislation demand the cleo | tion of men regardless of their political affiliations. who are truly representative of American ideals of liberty. Conscious of it's responsibilities inn pressed by the grave problems resulting from the great war, the American Fed eration of Labor at it's annual conven- tion in June. 1919. adopted reconstruc- tion programme This programme defined the essential industrial policies and legislative enactments required to estab- fish full measure of justice and oppor- tunity for labor.
 Because of grave emergencies which arose since that convention. it became | imperative that the representatives of organized labor and of farmers should assemble and confer to devise ways and means for safeguarding theis rights and liberties as free men and citizens. "On Decembr 13, 1919, confrence of representatives of labor and of farmers | met in Washington, D. C..
 This conference expressed labor $ grievances. protests and demands. No favorable legislative action upon | the recommendations contained ill the American Federation of Labor recon struction programme or those expressed | at the December conference, has been taken by Congress Instead, many Con- gressmen have endeavored to enact leg islation on providing for compulsory l labor. Despite the patriotism and sac | rifice of the masses of labor of America during the world war under the guise of anti-sedition laws the effort has been made to repress free association, free speech and free press.
 1 SCORNED BY CONGRESS
 "Seoned by. Congress, ridiculed and houses. the American labor movement finds it necessary to vigorously apply it's long and well established non-partisan political policy.
 Confronted by succession of hostile | congresses. the American Federation of Labor in 1906 announced it's historic bill of grievances. This was followed by a l vigorous and successful non-partisan political campaign.
 ''In 1908, 1910 and 1912 the same pro- gramme was energetically applied. As a result, many of labors enemies in Con 1gIess were defeated and all of the essen tial legislation on in labor's bill of griev- ances' of 1so6 was enacted.
 Conservative legislation has never beer Nr.1 | been so essential to secure the defeat of labor's enemies and the election of it. friends and supporters.
 Sinister forces are already actively en- gagged in efforts to confuse and nullif, labor's political power. Their object is ts divide the labor vote so that the electior of reacuonaries and enemies of labor vii be assured. Unless labor holds stead lastly to it's non-partisan political policy the enemies of labor will be successful in their efforts. Labor can not. labo, must not, permit it's political strength t, be divided in the present crisis.
 Organized labor owes allegiance to n, political party. It is not partisan to an, political party. It is partisan to prin cipies--the principles of freedom, of jus tce and of democracy.
 ''It is the duty of trade unionists thei friends and sympathizers, and all lover of freedom, justice and democratic ideai and institutions, to unite in defeating those seeking public office who are in different or hostile to the peoples inter ests and the rights of labor.
 SUPPORT ITS FRIENDS Wherever candidates for reelection have been frindy to labors interest they should be Loyalty supported. Wher ever candidates are hostile or indifferen to labor's interests, they should be de feated and the nomination and election of true and tried trade unionsts or O assured friends should be secured. Complying with the instructions of tn, last convention and the labor and farme conference of December 13, 1919, tn American Federation of Labor announce it's determination to apply every legiti mate means and all of the power at it , command to accomplish the defeat o labors enemies who aspire for publ office, whether they be candidates TO Pf esident. for Congress, for state legis latures or any other office.
 The American Federation of L.abo calls upon all affiliated and recognizes national international and brotherhoo : organizations. state federations of labor central labor bodies local unions an labor's friends and sympathizers to unit and give loyal support to the non-parti san political campaign now set in mo tion.
 l 'IhlS pOlltlcal campaign must pcSiH Il | the primaries. The record of every as pirant for public office must be thorough lly analysed, stated in unmistakabe 'an guage and given the widest possible pub iicity Labors enemies and friends mus be definitely known. To this end tn American Fedora ton of Labor has ere ated the national non-partisan poiitica campaign committee, and it now cali 1upon all affiliated and recognized labo organizations to create district and locs lcommittees and to cooperate with tn national committee apd coordinate it efforts.
 .The future welfare, the very abiiit of the trade union movement to carr O nits work for humanity, depends upo Ithe success of the campaign herewit iIaugurated.
 saThere can be no hesitancy.
 There must be no turning aside.
 "The time for vigorous and determine action is here
 THE LEADERS
 The general committee in charge of tn campaign consists of the executive con
 m.ttee. the eight vice presidents of tn federation. James Duncan, Quincy, Mass
 Joseph F. Valentine. Cincinnati; Fran Duff. Indianapolis: William Green. G sbocton. Ohio; W. D. Mahon. Detroit jT. A. Rickert, Chicago; Jacob Fischer lJnoianapolis. Matthew Woll Chicago IDaniel I. Tobin. Indianapolis. treasure
 Of the federation: John Donlin Chicago ,nresident. and William J. Spencer, Wasf 4 inrton. secretary of the building trade n 6ensrtment: A. J. Beeres. Washington