The Connecticut labor news., 1924-09-20
GOMPERS GROWING WEAKER IN BOOST
 FOR LA TOILETTE
A. F. L. Support Prompted By Heart He Says, Ignoring Action
 of Heads


 Samuel Gompers of the American Fed
 eration of Labor has prepared for the
 use of the American Federation of La bor Non-Partisan Political Committee
 an analysis and opinion of the three ad- dresses.
 In this analysis made public today at
 the A. F. of L. headquarters, President Gompers regards these belated declar-
 ations, apologies and repudiations of party platforms" by the Republican and Democratic candidates as being wei
 come though "they would have come
 with better grace and greater forcefull-
 ness had they been incorporated into i party platforms"
 Mir. Gompers describes Senator La
 Toilette as Header of leaders" and de-
 clares that labor's appeal in behalf of
 the La Toilette Wheeler candidates "is l founded upon the promptings of the
 human heart and the desire to cleanse all political parties of the dollar ma chinations which have warped the very
 fiber upon which they were ori ginally l founded"
 "In addition to the significance nor mally attached to Labor Day as recog- ] milton of the constructive service which 1 Labor renders to society, the Labor Day addresses of the three candidates for the presidency of the United States constituted an extraordinary testimonial to the effectiveness of organized labor's political program" Mr. Gompers com plete statement says.
 "The Republican party convention gave no consideration to those propo :, sals which labor submitted as of para mount importance for the welfare of the millions who do the work of the nation. The representatives of labor went to that convention at the solicita- ton and expense of Americas wage earners. They were given, not hear ing but an appearance and the appeal of labor was shamefully swept aside. Yet on Labor Day, the Republican can didate for the highest honor within the | gift of the nation received a group of l labor men, unknown to labor with few exceptions, and i'll an address extolled 1 the victorious and glorious deeds of his party in bringing about conditions of life and employment that the wage ear CTS enjoy and which they achieved Tn | spite of the persistent drive of those in governmental authority to lower those | standards.
 The Democratic party convention tId not treat labor much better. The rep resentatives of the workers went to that convention also. They pleaded the cause of labor and of all humanity. Though courteous hearing was extended that convention likewise Haunted the hopes posals were artfully turned into poli tica1 announcements which practically repudiated more constructive declara- tions on labor by former democratic conventions Yet on Labor Day the candidate. of the Democratic party for president Of the United States evidently realizing that the party which has en- trusted leadership into his hands, had gone sadly astray, endeaVored to cor rect this grievous error by repudiating his party platform and holding out the hope to Americas wage earners, that the appeal which the Democratic party denied to labor would now be heard and needed by him if entrusted to the presidency of the United States
 "These belated declarations, apolo- gies and repudiations of party platforms are welcomed They would have come with better grace and greatre forceful- ness had they been incorporated into party platforms thus according them the standing of party principles instead of mere campaign speeches. But even as political addresses they are worthy 1 of attention, because of the interest they have aroused in labor problems and especially because of the interest they present to the people of America these grave and important problems | Are party candidates auth orized and able to commit their respective political parties to policies and doctrines which 1 their respective party conventions de clined to accept? Are party candidates empowered to repudiate that which l their respective party conventions de- clared for? If so, why party platforms2 Where does political responsibility be- gin or end?
 "Regardless of answer to these queer ies recent developments have clearly demonstrated the present political sit uation is a distinct gain for labor. IL is clearly evident that the leading can didates of both Republican and Demo cratic parties have either come to req lize or have been compelled to take C. g. | nizance or the justice of labor's appeal which the respective political parties