Evening star., 1920-02-09

Organized labors announcement OF
it's entry into politics. call to ali
lovers of freedom to marshal their
forces in defense of their rights and
ideals" and to all trade unionists and
their friends to unite in defeating
those seeking Office who are hostne
or Indifferent to the rights of labor
today was being sent broadcast over
! the country.
! The declaration. issued officially by
| the American Federation of Labor
after reciting what it termed vain eft
| forts to secure remedial and construc-
| tive legislation for the interest and
| welfare of the toilers. denounced Con.
gress for it's failure to do its duty
and it's repression of labor.
"Scorned by Congress, rldlculed ano
misrepresented by many members OF
i both houses" the announcement said
| the American labor movement finds
| it necessary to vigorously apply its
! long and we'll established non-part-
| san political policy. The American
termination to apply every legitimate
means and all of the power at its com :
mand to accomplish the defeat of la :
bors enemies who aspire for pupllc
office. whether they be candidates for
President for Congress, for state leg
islatures or any other ONCE.
NOn-Pnrtfsan Committee Named.
The appointment of national nom
partisan political committee which
will mobilize the trade unionist move
ment was announced. and the cam
paign will be started immediately.
The work will begin in the primaries
and will be carried through to the
general elections. Each aspirant for
office. the announcement said. will
have his record "analyzed," and those
regarded as favorable to labor will be
supported regardless of party affiilia-
tions, while those antagonistic to the
labor movement will be opposed.
The labor organizations declaration
was adopted at the conference of
trade union representatives here in
December The conference was author
lied at the last convention of the
American Federation of Labor.
Announcement of it's decision was
made in an official circular embody-
ing the conclusions of the fedora
tons general committee. which has
been in session here several days.
This circular will be distributed to
trade unionists in every state
through the local unions, by which
it will be called also to the attention
of friends of organized labor.
Alleges Rights Are Threatened.
The inherent rights and principles
of our people are threatened" the
circular begins.
The free institutions of our coun-
.'The ideals of democracy are in
danger.
The Congress of the United States
has failed to do its duty. 1t has failed
to meet the emergency 1t has given
encouragement and support to au-
tocratic and reactionary policies. Its
dominating thought has been the re-
preston of labor.
every effort to secure remedial
and constructive legislation has been
strangled. Every appeal for redress
has met with subtle and open hos
tility. The halls Of Congress have
been used by labors enemies to fos-
ter and spread a vicious propaganda
against the efforts of the toilers to
exercise their normal and lawful ac-
motion of their interests and well
fare. Labor has appealed for relief
in vain.
1.-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.
Conditions Regarded "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-
Gus 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
affiliations, who are truly representa-
tive of American ideals of liberty.
Conscious Of its responsibilities. i'm
pressed by the grave problems result
ing from the great war, the American
convention in June, 1919, adopted a
reconstruction program. This pro-
gram defined the essential industrial
policies and Legislative enactments
! required to establish a full measure
Of justice and opportunity for labor.
Because of grave emergencies which
arose since that convention it be-
came imperative that the representa-
.iyes of organized labor and of
farmers should assemble and confer
to devise ways and means for safe
guarding their rights and liberties as
! free men and citizens. On December
I13 1919, conference of representa-
: tives of labor and of farmers met in
| Washington. D. c.
! This conference expressed 'labor's
| grievances. protests and demands
| Places Blame on Congress.
| NO favorable Legislative action upon
! the recommendations contained in the
| American Federation OF Labor recon-
struction program, or those expressed
at the December conference, has been
/ taken by Congress. Instead. many con-
/ gressmen have cndeavored to enact
/ legislation providing for compulsory
! labor. Despite the patriotism and sac
! rifice Of the masses of labor of Amer
ica during the world war, under the
guse of anti-sedition laws the effort
has been made to repress free associa-
/ ton. free speech and free press.
"Scorned by Congress. ridiculed and
tmisrepresented by many members of
both houses, the American labor move
] ment finds it necessary to vigorously