The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1920-08-20
Dim Eyes of the Helpless Are Upon
Hosts of Labor In This
Great Struggle.

Following is the leading editorial by
Samuel Gompers, from the August
issue Of the American Federationist.
official organ Of the American Feder-
alton of Labor
Toilers, Sanctify Your Vote
The most yerile movement in politi-
cal life today is the national non
partisan campaign being conducted by
the American Federation Of Labor.
Eloquent testimony to that effect IS
heard wherever the political situation
is intelligently discussed. There IS
no mistaking the influence which IS
being exerted for the defeat Of can
didates who have shown themselves
to be antagonistic to the best interests
Of the working people and to our cit
i2enship generally. The records show
that in the primary elections which
have been held thus far, the national
non-partisan political organization of
labor has played a decisive part I'M
more than Is contests In that many
districts those who have been hostile
or unfriendly have been defeated A
number Of primary elections remain 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 strug-
gle and these three months will con-
stitute the vital portion of the cam
paien period The issues Of the cam
paign are now in full before the peo-
pie everywhere. The records Of can
didates for the senate and for the
house Of representatives have been
sent to all labor organizations
throughout the country The politi-
cal platforms have been written and
labor's analysis Of them has been
placed before the people BY compar-
ison of the records the voters every
where may determine whom to support
and whom to defeat There is no am
biguity about the records of either
candidates or parties.
Politicians who fear retrbution at
the hands of an outraged electorate
have made the charge that labor in
some cases has abandoned its non
partisanship and has become partisan.
But in no sense is this true There
is no labor vote to be delivered and
there is no labor partisanship. to amy
political party There is, however, a
vote of working men and women and
of those citizens generally who are
forward looking and who are deter
mined to guard the principles Of free
dom and justice, who will vote more
unitedly than ever before for the re
tirement of those who have betrayed
the trust placed in them, and for the
election Of those whose principles anC
records indicate that they may bt
trusted to uphold the rights of tht
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 II
response to suggestions from the ma
tional campaign committee loca
unions, central bodies and state fed
erations throughout the country have
appointed campaign committees, ant
these in turn have formed compac
central organizations through which
the efforts of all might be organize,
and corordinated for the purpose Of Sc
curing the most favorable results.
1t has recently been requested tina
local labor campaign committees hol
congressional-dist meetings for tn
purpose Of more effectively organizing
the work in each congressional dis
trict Out of close cooperation of thi
character much good is certain to re
suit.
In order to further increase tn
enthusiasm and the effectiveness o
the campaign work the national cam
paign committee has requested tha
the executive councils of all state fec
erations of labor be called together i
special sessions at an early date. Th
purpose of these meetings is to max
- a ITrs