The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1920-02-20
LABOR TO FIGHT
With BALLOTS
President Gompers and. A. F. OF
l.. With Railroad Brother
hoods, Back Project.
WILL ASK FARMERS AID TOO.
TO Vote for "FriendIy" Men for, Con-
gressmen, Governors and Judaes.
No "Lawyers, Bankers, Trust
Barons or Mine Operators" :.

Washington.-Defn plans for the
1rst nationwide, aggressive political
campaign by organized labor to control
Congress and elect friendly national
and state officials have been made ;by
committee of the American Fedora
lion of Labor and will be announced
soon. The fight, labor officials de.
.lared, will be bipartisan and will be
launched in the coming presidential
primaries. -; p.
Organization details have been for
nulated by a committee composed of
he Executive Council and department
presidents of the federation, which has
been in session here.
The committee formulating plans
was appointed by Mr.. Gompers in ac-
.ordance with instructions given by
!he General Labor Conference held
here December 13, to put into effect
.he "declaration Of principles" adopted
at that time
Representatives in Congress whose
records show them to be unfriendly to
organized labor, it was said by mem
oers of the committee, will be opposed
vigorously for reelection. and new can
iidates hostile to labor's interests will
meet the same opposition. Every craft
Affiliated with the federation will be
called upon to join the political fight,
It was added. Congressional districts
will be actively canvassed and an army
Of organizers put in the field. The fed
GRAFTON now claims a membership of
more than 100000.
In addition, the campaign will be
carried into state and local primaries
and elections and an attempt made to
obtain governors, judges and legisla-
lures well disposed toward labor
Labor leaders explained that while
an effort would be made to enlist the
support of the farmers, no third party
movement is considered advisable. No
attempt to reach an agreement with
national farm organizations will be
made, but the appeal will be addressed
directly to the workers themselves, it
was said. The cooperation Of friendly
however, is hoped for, particularly in
North Dakota, Minnesota and adjoin-
ing states where the Nonpartisan
League has gained a hold, and in New
York, South Carolina and other states
having strong farmers organizations
Chiefs Of the four big railroad
brotherhoods, in washington for wage
conferences with the director general
SHE'D at any political discussion when
asked if the railroad employees were
aligned with the federation in the con.
:emplated fight.
On the other hand, the current issue
of Labor, the official organ Of the
Plum Plan League, has as it's leading
editorial call to NINETY million wage
earners and farmers to organize now
to elect their quota of congressman
n E. Wills, chairman of the Legisla.
live Committee of the brotherhoods
and L. e. Sheppard, president of the
conductors, are members of the edi.
toriaI board Of Labor.
The editorial declares that there
should be at least 200 workers and
farmers in Congress instead of the
lawyers, the bankers, the trust barons
and the mine operators" now holding
seats.
The editorial condemns the return
Of the railroads to private ownership
universal training, Intervention In Mex.
leo, anti-strike legislation and "a new
alien and sedition law" Privilege, II
says, wants IAN attorney general of Its
own choosing, so it can put men in
Jail for even discussing the right to
strike
"In a Republican district a man
should be nominated who can he relied
upon to oppose these things" it con.
tinues. "In a Democratic district q
Democrat, should - .rcc-F,'rnted who
will oppose these things"