The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-02-14

will be started and pursued without
relaxation through the primaries, in
which it is stated all aspirants for
office will have their records 'anal-
yzed, stated in unmistakable language
and given the widest possible publici-
tyr. This program applies to all can
adidates, from preside Dental nominees
down.
! Samuel Gompers. president of the
federation; Frank Morrison, secretary
and James O'Connell, president of the
federation's metal trades department,
were appointed as executive commit
tee, empowered to obtain such assis-
tance as necessary. Four women are
included in the national committee.
National Crisis.
A national crisis threatening the
free institutions of the country, by
the reactionary attitude of congress,
it was said, impelled organized labor
to apply this year the nonpartisan
policy formulated in 1906 and used in
several subsequent campaigns An
nouncement of the decision was made
in an official circular embodying the
conclusions of the federation's gene
raj committee, which has been in ses-
sion several days. This circular will
be distributed to trade unionists in
every state through the local unions,
and will be called also to the atten-
tion of friends of organized labor.
"The inherent rights and principles
Of our people are threatened" the
circular begins.
1.-The free institutions of our coun-
try are menaced.
THE ideals Of democracy are In
DANGER
Congress Has Failed.
1.-THE congress of the United States
has failed to do it's duty. 1t has
failed to meet the emergency. 1t has
given encouragement and support to
autocratic and reactionary policies.
Its dominating thought has been the
repression of labor.
, Every effort to secure remedial
and constructive legislation has been
strangled. Every appeal for redress
has met with subtle and open hostil-
ity. The halls Of congress have been
used by labors enemies to foster and
spread vicious propaganda against
the efforts Of the toilers to exercise
their normal and lawful>activities for
the protection and promotion of their
interests and welfare. Labor has ap-
pealed for relief in vain.
Z 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. i:..
y Conditions Intolerable.
1T IS intolerable that people who
spared no cost to make the world safe
FOR democracy, should be forced to
submit to any restriction Of the glori-
ous liberties inherited, from the
founders of our nation. The perpetu-
alton of our fundamental rights and
the enactment Of essential construc-
tive legislation demand the election of
men, regardless of their political af-
nl1ations. who are truly representa-
s1ves of American ideals of liberty.
conscious of it's responsibilities,
Impressed by the grave problems re-
suit1ng from the great war, the Amer
$!can Federation Of Labor, at its annl-
al convention in June, 1919, adopted
reconstruction program. This pre-
gram defined the essential Industrial
policy and legislative enactments re-
Qu1red to establish a full measure of
justice and opportunity for labor.
Il. because of grave emergencies
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