Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-04
GOMPERS EFT. AL.
Continued from Page onel

kSVuSuUuvo fFOm pa00 SHvk
with having Haunted the desires OF
labor In an arrogant manner" the lat
ter with having Haunted the said de-
sires with that evasiveness which is
the customary mark of insincerity."
Both parties, it says. ARE morally
bankrupt" and manipulated by ma
chine politicians" who have involved
the nation in moral obliquity and un-
shamed betrayal"
Coolidge and Dawes. Davis and Bry-
an. are bluntly dismissed as ''unaccept-
able to labor"
Thus, in the language of the text,
there remains the candidacy of Robert
NJ. Lafollette and Burton X. Wheeler;
the first an Independent Republican,
the second an Independent Democrat,
running as SUCH"
Those candidates, 1t continues. "have
preferred a platform in which the eco
nomic issues of the day are met in a
manner more nearly conforming TO la
boris proposals than any other" AL
though It does not conform to the A,
F. of L. proposals on international is
sues, specifically the League OF Ma
tons, the Lafollette-Wheele platform
is held to hew more closely to the Fed
erations lineup on domestic issues than
either of the major party platforms.
In the platform of the candidates II
has endorsed, the Federation finds
pledges for favorable action on its
chief demands. Relief from injunc-
tions: abolition of the Railroad Labor
Board; curtailment of the supreme
courts power: ratification of the child
labor amendment; direct election of
president, vice president and federal
judges-these and a few others the
planks of the platform are cited as
justification for supporting it and its
sponsors.
Our course is clear" is the conclu-
sion. I'm pointing to the platform
and records of the independent candi-
dates we do so with the confidence
that no other course can be pursued If
we are TO remain true to our conVic-
lions and our traditions. Those who
are hostile to labor must be opposed"
Care is taken, however, 10 make plain
that the A. +. of l.. endorses only La
toilette and Wheeler and their plat
form. 1t distinctly does not wish to
be identified as the pledged hacker of
candidates for other offices who may
have Lafollette and Wheeler as chief,
under the standard of third national
party.
THE action Of the council is not
pendent party movement or thifd
party" says the report. Neither can
this cooperation imply our endorsement
of principles advocated by any minori-
~ groups or organizations that may
support Senators Lafollette and
Wheeler"
The report, prepared by the national
non-partisan political campaign COM
mittee of the A. +. OF L.. was adopted
unanimously by the executive council
of that organization in annual session
at the Hotel Ambassador in Atlantic
City.
An informal ballot prior to the Off
cial action was said to have revealed
that six OF the council were for the re-
port and four against it unless revised
with Samuel Gompers, president Of the
American Federation of Labor and
chairman of the council, not indicat-
ing how he would vote. He joined,
however. in the later unanimous adop-
tion'of the report.
Tomorrow the council expects to take
up the discussion Of national Defence
Day, with view to going on record
for or against observance of the day.
Jurisdictional matters are expected to
keep the body in session until the week
end.