Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-02-12

Washington. Feb. g. CBy the Associated
Press. )-Organized labor, 100000 strong.
has thrown its hat into the political ring.
Vigorously denouncing Congress, which,
1t was said, has failed to do It's duty"
the American Federation OF Labor to-day
announced the appointment of national
non-partisan political campaign commit
tee which will mobilize trade union,sts
and "all lovers of freedom" IN an effort
to defeat candidates Indifferent or hos
Tile to labor and to elect true ana tried
friends OF the trade union movement.
Not waiting for the general election in
November, the campaign will be started
Immediately and pursued without reihxa.
ton through the primaries. IN which, 4, N
stated, all aspirants for oifico viii have
their records "analyzed. stated IN unmis-
taxable language and given the widest
possible publicity" This program pplies
to all candidates from presidential roni.
nees down.
FOUR WOMEN ON COMMITTEE
Samuel Gompers, president Of tho fed
GRAFTON. Frank Morrison. secretary. and
lanes OConnell, president of the fedef6 =
tons metal trade department, were ap,
pointed AS executive committee cinpow-
cred to obtain such assistants as neces-
sary. Four women are included In the
national committee.
A national crisis. threa tening the free
institutions of tho Country by the "reae-
tionary" attitude OF Congress, it war said
impclcd organized labor TO Apply this
year the non-partlsan policy formulate ed
In 1906 and used IN several subsequent
campaigns, Announcement ef tho de-
cision was MADE in an official rireuia =
embodying tho conclusions OF ihu fadsra.
lions general committee which has been
In session here several days This creu,
lar will be distributed to trade unionist q
in every State through iile local unions,
by which 1t will he called else 10 The
attention OF friends of organized labor,
THE PLATFORM
THE inherent rights and principles Of
our people are threatened the circular
begins.
The free Institutions OF our country
are menaced
The Ideals of democracy are in danger.
The Congress of the United States has
failed to do its duty. II has failed to
meet the emergency. It has given en-
enlargement and support to autocratic
and reactonary policies. Its dominating
thought has been the repression of labor.
Every effort to secure remedial and
constructive legislation has been strang-
led Every appeal for redress has met
with subtle and open hostility. The halls
Of Congress have been used by labor's
enemies TO foster and spread vicious
propaganda against the efforts of the
toilers to exercise their normal and law
full activities for the protection and pro-
motion of their interests aud welfare
Labor has apnea,ed for rel,ef I'm vain.
,,,,r non ,,,,,,,n,
Oi' NEE Oi'Ni
me hour mas arrived when those who
believe In the maintenance OF democratic
institutions must marshal their forces III
defense OF their rights and ideals
at is intolerable that u people who
spared no cost to make the world safe
for democracy should be forced to sub
M, " any nes,'tc.'o'' Vi me glorious ND
80" ~ .io',i Wy i0u,'ue's Vi gu
N,' Pc p'u"'ioi' vi ou' iu"o"
ms, ,ae"'a' iients anu ,he eiiae''''e'l " essen
ia. ue'se iesisia''o' demand 'n'
eiee.on u men regaroiesS o. 'he'r pom
t!cal atllhatiohs' VINO are truly representa-
1--WE Oh american IDEALS OF liberty
No"scious oi 's RESPONSIVENESS I'M
pressed ny the grave problems resulting
from tne great war. the American FED
eia''oh Oh I1apor al us annual conVen
.ioN III June lsi' ADOPTED reconstrnc
non program rms program derinen the
essehtih' ihoos'riai pohcies ana ieglsia
I'VE eh''thehts REQUIRED 10 estapnsh
tuli measure OF Justice ana opportunity
'o '.r .apoi'