Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1924-08-29
Executive Council Endorses
La Toilette and Wheeler

ATLANTIC CITY, Aug. 14.-Sen-
ator Robert Marion La Toilette viii
be supported by American labor for
the presidency as a result Of the en-
dorsement of his candidacy and that
of Senator Wheeler, by the execu-
tive council of the American Fedora
ton of Labor here.
The endorsement is clear-cut, sup
porting La Toilette and Wheeler as
independent candidates. The report
shows the great superiority of the In
dependent platform taking it up
point by point it condemns both
republican and democratic platforms
without reserve pouring hot shot in
to both documents for their repudia-
ton of the interests of the people.
The councils report steers clear of
third party proposals or possibilities
and makes it clear that it will not be
involved in such ideas and programs
as may be advanced by minority
groups, such as the socialists, that
may see fit to support the independ-
ent ticket. 1t likewise asserts Amer
lean Federation of Labor leadership
in the congressional campaign. The
labor movement goes into the cam
paign for La Toilette because La
Toilette is right and because his plat
form offers the people the greatest
hope of progress in this present cam
paign. The report in full follows:
NJ 5nvsa
The executive committee of the
American Federation of Labor ma
tional non-partisan political campaign
committee presented labor's proposals
to the republican convention.
The republican convention gave Ia
boris representative a brief and curt
hearing. The republican platform ig-
nores entirely the injunction issue.
It fails to deal with labor's right to
organize or the right of the workers
even in self-defense, collectively to
cease work. That platform sustains
the railroad labor board, with all that
it means in the direction of govern
mental coercion of wage earners. 1t
fails to recommend the ratification by
the states of the child labor constitu-
tional amendment.
The republican convention nomi-
mated candidates unacceptable to la
Dor.
Its candidate for vice president is
one of the most outspoken enemies Of
labor and is the founder of an organi-
cation dedicated to the task of writ
ing into political platforms planks
calling for the anti-union shop-an
organization which also encouraged
and supported the Daugherty injunc-
ton against the railroad shopmen.
Labor's representatives submitted
to the democratic convention identi-
cal proposals to those submitted to
the republican convention. At this
convention an extended hearing was
granted. The democratic platform
pledges that party to legislation to
regulate hours and conditions of all
labor, a proposal against which the
American Federation of Labor has
struggled throughout it's whole his
tory. 1t is silent as to the injunc-
ton. 1t does not meet the railroad
labor board issue. On that point it
is so equivocal that the enemies of
labor may we'll feel that their desires
will be met. 1t, too, fails to recon-
mend the ratification by the states
of the child labor constitutional
amendment.
The democratic convention nomi-
mated candidates unacceptable to la
Dor.
AS to the candidates and platforms,
both the republicans and the demo-
cratic national party conventions
Haunted the desires of labor, the re-
publican convention in an arrogant
manner; the democratic convention
by that evasiveness which is the Gus
tomary mark of insincerity.
There remains the candidacy of
Robert M. La Toilette and Burton X.
Wheeler, the first an Independent re-
publican; the second an independent
democrat, running as such.
These candidates have proffered a
platform in which the economic issues
Of the day are met in a manner more
nearly conforming to labor's pro-
posals than any other platform.
This platform pledges remedy for
the injunction evil.
1t pledges the right to organize
and collectively cease to work.
1t pledges protection Of the rights
of free speech, free press and free
assemblage.
1t pledges adjustment of the rail-
road labor board.
It pledges a measure to annul the
power of the supreme court to declare
laws permanently unconstitutional.
It declares for direct election Of
president and vice president and
election of federal judges.
1t recommends prompt ratification
by the states of the child labor con-
stitutiOnal amendment.
1t pledges subsequent federal leg
islation to protect child life.
On international issues this plat.
form does not conform to labor's pro.
posals but it does more fully thar
any other political platform meet la.
boris views in relation to domesti.
economic issues.
We cannot do other than noint ON