Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1923-08-31

public in general and organized labor
in particular to Legislative proposals
considered harmful or beneficial, and
to do all that can be done to promote
labor's interest from a Legislative
point of view.
Political Committee.
It is the duty of the non-partisan
political campaign committee to re-
cord the activities of all congress-
men and senator's and to note upon
what legislation they favored labor
and wherein their attitude and vote
was used to the detriment of the
wage earners. It is further the duty
of this committee to encourage state
declarations of labor to appoint SINH
lar COMMITTEES and to record the atti-
tudes and activities of state legisla-
tors in the same manner. Whenever
political campaign presents itself,
it is the function of this committee
to see that those loyal to labor are
favored and that those are defeated
who have ben Indifferent or hostile
to the workers interests. This cam
paign is the followed out in the sub
sequent election.
The American Federation of Labor
avoids partisan political action. It
is disinclined toward a distinctive la
Dor political organization. It does
not attempt to disturb the partisan
political affiliations of it's members,
but seeks to. use the political power
of its members within all political
parties to the end that friends of la
Dor shall be elected to public office
and enemies of labor be defeated.
Cooperative Societies.
The committee on cooperative So
cieties is created to protect and pro-
mote the interests of all bona fide
cooperative movements. This COM
mittee is engaged in acquainting
members of organized labor with the
methods by which cooperative enter
I prises have been successfully estab-
lished and maintained. 1t also has
prevented trade unionists from ven
turing into cooperative enterprises
which were in the main stock jobbing
or exploiting organizations.
The American Fedration of Labor
is strongly inclined to the principles
of the Rochdale system of cO-opera-
ton which has been so successful in
European countries. While the CO.
operative movements thus far eneour-
aged have related more particularly
to distributive functions, there is 3
marked demand for productive and fl
nancial cooperative enterprises. In
deed, during the past year ten trade
union banks have been established and
more are in process of formation.
Then, too, coal mines and other pro-
ductive enterprises have been entered
into by trade unions and trade un-
iOnists on a cooperative basis.
Edueation.
Education has always been regard
ed by the American Federation of
Labor on the basis Of permanent
and responsible growth Of the trade
union movement. Education is, in
deed, an integral part Of the trade
unions.
Historically the interests Of the
American Federation Of Labor dates
back to the championship Of our free
public school system. Perhaps no
other influence contributd more to the
development Of our free public school
system. These educational institu-
tons have ever been under the most
vigorous scrutiny Of the American
Federation Of Labor. The interest Of
, the trade unions relates not alone to
the interests Of the students, but in
cludes that Of the teachers and pro-
fessors. The activities Of the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor cover the
grammar and higher schools, as well
as colleges and universities, and en-
brace text books, studies, classes,
etc.
With the development and de-
mand for vocational guidance and
learning the American Federation OF
Labor's interests and activities in