Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-02-09

| washington, feD. (bN the AS
sociated Press,)-Organjzed labor,
100000 strong, has thrown its
hat into the political ring.
Vigorously denouncing congress,
which it was declared has failed
to do its duty" the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor today announced
the appointment of a national non
partisan political campaign COM
mittee which will mobilize trade
unioniSts and "all lovers of free
dom in an effort to defeat candi-
dates indifferent or hostile To labor
and to elect true and tried" friends
of the trade union movement Not
waiting for the general election in
November, the campaign will be
started Immediately and pursued
without relaxation through the pri-
maries, in which it is stated all as
pirants for office will have their
records analyzed, stated in unmis-
taxable language and given the
widest publicity" This program
applies to all candidates, from
presidential nominees down.
Samuel Gompers, Frank Morri |
son and James O'Connell We're ap-
pointed as executive committee, |
empowered TO obtain such assist
ants as necessary Four women are
included in the national committee. |
National crises threatening the |
free institutions of the country by |
the "reactionary' attitude of con-
gress, it was said, impelled organ |
lied labor to apply this year the
partisan policy formulated in |
1906 and used in several subsequent |
campaigns. Announcement of the |
decision was made in an official |
circular embodying the conclusions |
of the federation's general commit |
tee which has been in session here |
several days. This circular will be |
distributed in every state through |
the local unions.
"Thc inherent rights and
principles of our people are
threatened" the circular be-
gins.
"The free institutions of
our country are mcnaced.
"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 emcf-
gency. IL has given encourage
ment and support 10 autocrat-
10 and rcactionary policies, Its
dominating thought has been
the repression of labor.
Every effort has been made to |
secure remedial and constructive |
legislation has been strangled. |
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 n vicious propaganda
against the efforts of the toilers to
exercise their formal and lawful |
activities for the protection and |
promotion of their interests and
welfare. Labor has appealed for
relief in vain.
"Thc hour has arrived when
those who believe I'm the MAIN
tenanCc of democratic inStitu-
tions must marshal their forces
in defense OF their rights and
ideals.
1T is intolerable that q people
who spared no cost to make the
world safe for democracy should
bo forced to submit to any restric-
ton of the glorious liberties in
kerited from the founders of our
nation. The perpetuation Of our
fundamental rights and the enact
ment of essential constructive leg
islation demand the election of
nt.1l rf AtN
affiliations, who are truly repre-
sentative of American ideals of
liberty.
Conscious of its responsibilities,
impressed by the grave problems
resulting from the great war, the
American Federation of Labor at
its convention in June, 1919. adopt
ed a reconstruction program. This
program defined the essential in
dustrial policies and legislative
enactments required to establish
a full measure of justice and OPP
rortunity for labor.
Because of grave emergencies
which arose since that convention
it became imperative that the rep
resentatives of organized labor and
farmers should assemble and con-
fer to devise ways and means for
safeguarding their rights and lib
critics as free men and citizens. on
December 13, 1919, a conference
of representatives of labor and OF
farmers met in Washington. d. c.
This conference expressed
'labor's grievances. protests and
demands
"No favorable legislative action
upon the recommendation con-
tanned in the American Federation
of Labor reconstruction program,
or those expressed at the Decem-
Der conference. has been taken by
congress. Instead many congress-
men have cndeayored to enact leg
islatiOn providing for compulsory
labor. Despite the patriotism and
of the masses of labor of
America during the world war, un-
der the 2Iiise of anti-sedition laws
the effort has been made TO rcpress
free association. free speech and
free press.
"Scorncd by congress, ridi-
culed and misrepresented by
many members of both houses,
the American labor movement
finds il necessary to vigorously
apply its hong and well cstab-
Iished non-partisan political
policy.
Confronted by succession of
hostile congresses. the American
Federation of Labor in 1906 an
nounced its historic Bill OF Griev-
This was followed by a
vigorous and successful non-par-
tisan political campaign. In 1908,
1910 and 1912 the same program
was energetically applied and as
n, result many of labor's enemies
in congress were defeated and all
of the essential legislation in 'labor's