New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-03-22
Union Labor
Starts Political
Battle Tonight
Will Name Committees
Throughout Country That
Will Oppose Candidates
Hostile to A. F. of L. Plan
Compers Details Program
Will Open Campaign in Per-
SON in Address Before
New Jersey Legislature
From The rribune.s washi,soton Bsrsaa

From The Tribune.s Washington Bareau
WASHINGTON, March 21.--Organ-
lied labor's political campaign will be
launched throughout the country to-
morrow night, when more than 4,500,-
coo members of local unions will meet
in one thousand cities to bring the en-
tire membership of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor into line behind the
organizations nationA non-partisan
campaign.
Local committees will be formed at
The meetings and charged with bring
ing about the defeat of candidates for
ali offices on all tickets who are op-
posed to labor's interests.
While the local meetings are being
held Samuel Gompers, president Of the
Federation, will speak at Trenton,
y. J. He will address the New Jersey
State Legislature upon invitation Of
the State Federation of Labor.
Gompers Proclaims Platform
The platform upon which labor will
make its fight in both the Republican
and Democratic parties IN the cam
paign is outlined by Mr.. Gompers in
the forthcoming April number Of "The
American Federationist," the official
organ Of the Federation. The purpose
Of the fight, it Is stated, is to defeat
every candidate who is "hostile to the
aspirations Of labor"
THE fight is on" Mr.. Gompers de-
clares in submitting the platform. "In
this fight labor will seek the election
of fit candidates by a show Of the rec
ords and of the facts
'The rights of labor have been Sc
riously menaced by many present hold
ers Of political places.
"The right to cease work, to strike,
has been placed in jeopardy.
"The right of injunction has been
SO abused that the injunction process
OF to-day would scarcely be recognized
by its originators.
'Greed and power have sought to
distort every process to the end that
human aspirations may be suppressed
end human welfare made secondary to
profits and plumber.
'More than a year has passed since
silence settled over the battlefields. vet
IN all that time not one measure Of
really constructive character has been
placed upon the nations statute books"
The labor platform is set forth as
follows:
High Cost of Living
Existing high and excessive prices
are due to the present imitation of
money and credits, to proftecring by
ket products and to burdens levied by
middlemen and spectators. We urge:
The detlatlon of currency, prevention
OF boarding and unfair price fixing,
establishments of cooperative move
ments operatiod under the Rochdale
system, and making accessible all in
come tax returns and dividend declara-
tons as direct and truthful means
of revealing excessive costs and profits.
Publicity of Profits
1T is essential that legislation should
provide for the Federal licensing of all
corporations organized for profit. Fur
thermore, Federal supervision and con-
troll should include the increasing Of
CAPITAL stock and the mourning of
bonded Indebtedness, with the provi-
sion that the books of all CORPORA
tons shall be open at all times to Fed
eral examiners.
Cooperation
There are many problems arising
from production, transportation and
distribution which would be readily
solved by applying the methods of CO.
operation. Unnecessary middlemen
who exact tax from the community
without rendering any useful service
The farmers, through cooperative
dalrles, canneries, packing house, grain
elevators, distributing houses and other
cooperative enterprises, can secure
higher prices for their products and
yet place these in the consumers hands
at lower prices than would otherwise
he PAD. There is an almost limitless
ileld Tor the consumers in which to
establish cooperative buying and sell
ing, and IN the most necessary develop
ment the trade unionists should take an
immediate and ACTIVE mart
Housing.
The ownership Of homes, free from
the grasp of exploitatlve and specula-
tive interests, will mako far more
efficient workers, more contented fami-
lies and better citizens. The govern
inent should, therefore, inaugurate a
plan to build model homes and estab-
Ash a system of credits whereby the
workers may borrow money at a low
rate of interest and under favorable
terms to build their own homes.
Credit should also be extended to
voluntary non-profit making housing
and Joint tenancy associations. States
and municipalities should be freed from
the restrictions preventing their under
taking proper housing projects and
should be permitted to engage in other
necessary enterprises relating thereto
nc erection and maintenance of dwell.
ings where migratory workers may fine
lodglng and nourishing food during the
periods of unemployment should be
encouraged and supported by munich.
If need should arise to expend public
iunds to relieve unemployment the
building of wholesome houses would
pest serve the public interests.
Agriculture.
Legislation should be enacted plac
ing graduated tax upon all disable
Anos ABOVE the acreage which is cult
waited by the owner. ~"''''