Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1924-08-29

REVIEWED AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR OFFICIALS
IN REPORT TO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

A review of labor's non-patisan
history and a list of its political de-
mands on the major parties at their
recent conventions is included in a
report to the executive council of
the A. F. of L. by the executive COM
mittee of the A. F. Of L. national
non-partisan political campaign COM
mittee.
To the executive council of the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor:
The executive council, at its last
meeting, instructed the executive
committee of the American Fedora
ton Federation of Labor national
non-partisan political campaign COM
mittee, and as many other members
of the executive council as could
find it convenient, to attend the ma
tional democratic and republican con-
ventions, and that the executive COM
mittee present the demands Of labor
to both conventions.
These instructions were carried
out and we present the following re-
port:
The policy of the American Feder-
alton of Labor's active and positive
participation in politics was inaugu-
rated in 1906. This non-partisan po-
1itical policy was intended to secure
the election of those in favor of the
just and the humanitarian aims and
purposes of the labor movement and
the defeat of those who had demon
strated their hostility to the cause
of labor.
The scope of the application of our
policy has been extended to apply not
only to congressional elections but
to the Offices of president and vice
president of the United States and to
participation in primary elections.
However, in principle the non-parti-
san policy inaugurated in 1906 has
ever since governed the political
course of the American Federation of
Labor. Adherence to this non-par-
tisan policy has resulted in splen-
did record of Legislative achieve
ments. Reference to our 1906 bill of
grievances compared with legislative
enactments since testifies to the pro-
gress and success resulting from Ia
boris non-partisan political policy.
In keeping with this non-partisan
political policy and by direction of
the conventions of the American
Federation of Labor, the executive
council and the non-partisan political
campaign committee of the American
Federation of Labor prepared a Sc
ries of Legislative and constitutional
proposals for submission to both
major political parties for favorable
consideration and incorporation into
their political platforms.
These proposals were as follows:
Washington, D. c., June 9, 1924. :
Out of our experiences as workers
and citizens of this republic Ameri-
can labor has cached carefully con-
sidered conclusions upon proposals
that should be embodied in our ma
tional policies. AS your political
party is to make an appeal to the
minds and consciences of the voters
for support of a national program to
be formulated in your party platform
aS REPRESENTATIVES, VI AHiCIlCb .
workers we submit for your most
earnest consideration proposals that
labor deems essential to continued
national progress and maintenance
of a genuine patriotism that comes
from confidence in guiding political
ideals as well as wisdom and integ-
rity of administration.
With fully justified reasons our
voters will scrutinize most critically
the declarations and decisions of par
ty conventions held this year. There
is imperative need for revival of a
feeling of high responsibility for
maintaining political activity on a
plane compatible with those ideals
for which we as a republic stand.
The following proposals constitute
the legislative program which labor
urges as imperative and eminently
constructive, and insists should be
included in your platform:
To promote highest material prog
ress which is the basis for national
effectiveness as well as an agency for
national service, we urge that indus
try and commerce be freed from leg
isIative prohibitions that restrict de-
velopment in conformity to economic
requirements. To this end we pro-
pose the repeal Of antitrust Iegisla-
ton and the enactment of legislation
that will provide regulation in public
interest and legalize economic or
ganization as well as the constructive
activities of trade associations.
1t is unacceptable that an integral
part of legislation establishing this
economic policy is full recognition Of
the right of workers to assist them
selves in unions for their protection
and advancement both as workers
and citizens and collectively to carry
on the legitimate functions Of trade
unions. Perversion of the injunctiye
process to apply to personal relations
in industrial disputes must be pro-
hibited and equity procedure returned
to its benefcent service in protection
of property.
It is essential for the conservation
r ..o&sonoI 1y;r.;litv that child life