The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-07-30

which is being eXerted for the defeat
of candidates who have shown them
selves to be antagonistic to the
best interests of the working people
and to our citizenship generally. The
records show that in the primary
elections which have been held thus
far, the national non-partisan po-
itical organization of labor has
played a decisive part in more than
fifteen contests. In that many dis
tricts those who have been hostile
or unfriendly have been defeated
A number of primary elections re-
main to be held and in these there is
certain to be additional achievement
for the welfare of our people.
Three months remain before the
final day of the present political
struggle and these three months will
constitute the vital portion of the
campaign period. The issues of the
campaign are now in full before the
people everywhere. The records of
candidates for the Senate and for
the House of Representative have
been sent to all labor organizations
throughout the country The political
party platforms have been written
and labor's analysis of them has
been placed before the people. By
comparison of the records the voters
everywhere may determine whom to
support and whom to defeat. There
is no ambiguity about the records of
either candidates or parties.
+,,;I NJ
the hands of an outraged electorate
have made the charge that labor in
some cases has abandoned its non
partisanship and has become par
tisan. But in no sense is this true.
There is no labor vote to be de-
| livered and there is no labor par
Uisanship to any political party. There
| is, however, a vote of working men
and women and of those citizens
generally who are forward looking
and who are determined to guard
the principles of freedom and justice,
who will vote more unitedly than
ever before for the retirement of
those who have betrayed the trust
placed in them and for the election
of those whose principles and records
indicate that they may be trusted
to uphold the rights of the people in
public office.
The interest that has been mani
Tested in Labor's non-partisan cam
paign surpasses anything ever known
| in an American political effort. In
response to suggestions from the Ma
tional Campaign Committee local
unions, central bodies and state feder-
atoms throughout the country have
appointed campaign committees which
the efforts of all might be organized
and co-ordinated for the purpose of
securing the most favorable results.
1t has recently been requested that
local labor campaign committees hold
congressional-distric meetings for
the purpose of more effectively or
ganizing the work in each congress
sional district. Out of close coop
GRAFTON of this character much good
is certain to result.
In order to further increase the
enthusiasm and the effectiveness of
the campaign work the National
Campaign Committee has requested
that the executive councils of all
State declarations of labor be called
together in special sessions at an
early date The purpose of these
meetings is to make clear the pro-
gram in each state and to harmon
ize and organize all efforts with one
object in view.
The staff which has been organ
lied by the National Campaign Com
mittee at A. F. of l.. headquarters
in Washington is giving every pos
sible assistance to local campaign
committees, and there should be no
hesitancy on the part of any local
committee in asking for such coun-
sci and assistance as may be deemed
/ necessary. One Of the most encour-
aging features of the entire work of
the campaign thus far has been the
tremendous demand for literature
published by our National Committee.
1t has been impossible to keep
abreast Of this demand, largely ow-
ing TO difficulty in securing suffi-
cient quantities of white paper, but
every effort is being made to meet
as fully as possible the needs in this
direction.
1t will be noted that in this issue
of the American Federationist the
platform planks on Labor's proposals
gre published as they appear in the
Democratic and Republican plat
forms, together with the comment of
labor thereon. The intelligence of
the American people will lead them
to determine which platform more
nearly conforms to their desires and
which expresses more nearly their
ideals and aspirations toward free
dom, justice and democracy.
The forces of greed and plumber.
the profiteers and the autocrats of
our political and industrial life leave
no doubt as to what they desire and
where they will mass their support.
The challenge of these forces to
the citizenship Of the nation is braz-
en- and blunt That the right think
ing men and women of our Republic
can afford to allow this challenge
to reap a harvest Of political power
in the coming election is unthinkabla.
More than in any political contest
since the days Of the civil war the