New-York tribune., 1920-03-01
Swift Forays Into Ranks
8 of Both Parties Believed
10 BE Rest " ay TO Attain
Ends of Organization
Candidates Must
Respond to Test
PRIMARY Affiliations of
" orkers No Bar Against
Shifts During Contest
By Theodore M. knappen


WASHINGTON, F eb. 29.--Organ-
ised iabor is in politics this year
<shead over heels In other years it
Ihas waeed in here and there. some
,times boldly aN1 sometimes timidly,
kbnt this year It has stripped and
plunged N.
True to the unvarying policy of
Fresidens Samuel Gonpers Of oppos-
ing the formation of labor party,
the AucficaH F ederation of Labor
will constitute vast guerilla flying
fsqaadroN Of the political seas, that
Twill shtt from colors to colors, ac-
cording 10 expediency and oppor-
Etunity, hshtine now on one side and
tc-morrow on the other, fighting
here WIN the Republicans and there
with the Dsmocrats-never "for"
seither party. bat always for labor.
casual resaers nay have supposed
.sshat orEapizea labor WAS not to be
Nin politics becsuse IL is sternly se.
fagainss Iabor party. On the contrary,
S Is h. It's own declaration in poll
Eies tn tie lipt-and in the most dis
fehcertiig way the regular party
tsfEsnizs ons snd party. managers
slAtor aot rafr&;uing from indepen-
Wfeas poi'ieal action because It en-
lSeftains any abstract principles about
Skssping class aud Industrial groups
Ktnt OF polite as such and leaving
- to unrestraiued Individual diacre-
Hon. On the contrary. It has projected
Itself into the political game in
hepeyilla style bera Sc II believes that
kA the one and enly sure way to at
Ntsiu its goal Of government by and
0r labor or make progress toward it,
M Strategy of Latest Fight
& Il Ar. Gorspess. 1t is to be sup
spssed.. had the faintest idea that a
hbor party could muster enough
Votes to have fighting chance OF
ENmning s.raight-out victory he
$0usd be for labor party with all
lH well known vehemence. If he
NJ any hope that either Of the old
Eerties would declare for !abor's po-
1.Hiehl amy and any confidence that
y would abide by it's declaration. he
night have heen content to leave It
10 the individual lsborite to find mis-
9nstnrai political affiliation. Being
Awahout such hope and confidence. mis-
e0aicy and the. Of organ lzed labor is
~ cut irregularly and confusingly
across party !ancs, supporting friendly
sssndostes aad opposing unfrisnd!y
syague way this has long been
@iha Dclitieai practice Of organized
MnAoy 10 AnaerieA, but the policy mas
fNexsr hac tae organization. the
Stleepe, the force the central direc-
uen and Inc 4nsjasence tina. are TO
eharscseriSs t this year. Under .he
yanspsces os~-7ao Federation of Labor
noIcund thought and abundant
ensrSy are being given to the organi-
konon OF Campaign that is to be ap-
use 10 every Office in the nation
spm that o. the President down to
HNuAtiee of the reace.
#sery candidate must submit to the
#7 qussfion: Are you Tor US or
anst as?" To this general question
he sts Dill Of particulars there must be
9estcEorscai anawers. No vague state
tants Of general principles or oratory
N Dc aeeepted This plan is to be ap-
Htaea within psrties as well SIS between
srties. Laborites, before the prima ries,
H!i! wear the uniforms Of the parties
NMsth whict they have been accustomed
~ work Cand!dates fnr party favor
gAlA get woes In ihe primaries accord
kan9 70 tnsir attitude toward labor, and
EsXs they are pct nominated labor will
2hptiE desert 20 the other party If
Hstark.
VII Bore From Within
u 8 wogs, labor proposes 10 apply
NnRchN0s tne Program Of boring from
Ey*uin Iaat William u. Foster advo-
Aseu as fA@ preferred method Of con-
estiHg labor 20 syadicslls1n. It il
ssSsAs On ths theory that an aggres-
l,c ninority within a party has an ex-
sHenr rrofFeet of using that body for
VIZ p9rposea BY exercising tho control
hMnf vois naming it's candidates Ii
sts 1AaiS II ms eadeayer it has another
z1ex,-iha' ct Jumping It's whole vote
tae npppistion candidate Ii he be
aAs iiett sort
zAat seeos msn throughout the conn-
kvisl ne aggressive IN e&rryiug out
Ra rs taken for granted. The
eysupai Republican OK Individual
sessat expccts little or no personal
s9t 1rem the casting OF his ballet
11aeegste has In Wow definite sub-
ssei sereffts for hix social rroun.
shet tsi ore for himself, and the sua-
~ s~ia~iut4xEst ~ ccuntAd IN ~
BIN or to harder and NOR. con-
as eiYert than can be sxueetsd al
0sad workers Of the parties.
SEe carry out the political program Of
~ faers In being ereatsd q vast po-
9IgAntza.ion with i&s headauar-
e Washington ard parslleiinx "a
lug organization Of the Assaxf-:
Ffaeration Of Labor from exrttSi
SysstIses. X lis beaded BY tJae No
- Non~PArtisan PcIitiGal CamvAi1M
naitsee of the Americas Fedsrntion
ssaces. which WAS appointed thts
kss attss three-day coufsreaca Ia
s9i1gfon and in cosnpIisaca With the
ea rsAcssd NJ ths Last <eryenticn
81 Fsssfstien and the confsrenes of
eesafAeives Of iabcr ard ceStain
organizations. TheresaYs twsntys
sssska psfs II this committees. Mr..
fr - shsirman. Ii inciHdss ths
sx*estiva eeuneil al the YaAsy-
lns presydants and sserstaFsas at 1
4 salsateS. metal. naien label, xsjl-
eza 9ksntug trades Aepartnsnts
ktAtstes ~ nAtfcs6d errsA- ]
q see34trSs textile Nogar} |