Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1925-08-28
No Aid Will Be Given
To Third Party Move
ments By A. f. OF l..


A strenuous non-partisan political
campaign during the congfessioiai.
elections Of next year was appfoV.ffo
TODAY bv the Executive Council OF the
American Federation Of Labor
State declarations of labor. city
central bodies. local unions ana gen,
eral and volunteer organizers VIII
be called upon to make every prepat1.
ton for both the primary anu eiec-
ton campaigns. =t.,.aI
Reports from every congressional
district in the United States were con
sidered. The reports were most en-,
thusiastic in predicting expected
victories. It'll
The report of the Executive Council
will be made to the convention "i'ci
meets in Atlantic City, October ,.
Immediately after that convention the
Executive Council stated, 1t VIII en-
ter the various campaigns with the
purpose of supporting those VINO can
he depended upon to be true 10 the
people. for if they are true TO the
people they will be true to labor.
Resolutions adopted warn the wage
earners and their sympathizers not 10
lose interest in the nomination ana
election of candidates friendly to labor
and the people. While in the IVA
election labor deviated somewhat from
its former non-partisan political polley
the FL Paso convention declared 'that
for the American Federation of Labor
to be true to its mission it must be
as free from political party domino
ton now as at any time in its history"
This MEANS" declares the EXecu-
tive Council, that the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor non-partisan political
policy in the future will be along the
usual defnitely-outlined plan"
No aid or comfort will be given
those who seek to launch third party
movements as the Executive Council
said:
''ln conducting all non partisan poll
teal campaigns the American Fedora
ton of Labor will maintain control
within itself of the decisions to be
made and the procedure to be fol
lowed. The Executive Council, how
ever, believes that it should accept
the support that is freely given by
any group that has for its purpose the
carrying out of the non-partiSan poll
teal policy Of the American Fedora
ton Of Labor"
An educational campaign to aid the
non partisan voters in making the eX-
tensive ballots now so prevalent will
he launched Immediately. State fed
erationS of labor and city central
bodies were urged to make a study
of the laws in their respective states
covering the primaries and elections
in order to secure legislation that
would make them more responsive to
the will of the people.
Condemnation of the political
bosses that are endeayoring to do
away with primaries was a feature of
the resolution. The people are
warned that while those who are ad-
vocating the elimination of primaries
to permit the bosses" to select can
didates have been defeated SO fan
they will continue the agitation. 1t is
therefore necessary to carefully watch
all legislation along that line in the
various states.
All labor was reminded by the Exc
cutive Council that the non partisan
political policy has passed through
the crucible of experience and has
proved to be the best Ian yet adopted
for labor to voice itself politically"
Since the non-partisan political
policy has been followed many indie
pendent or third party movements
have come and gone. Generally they
existed only for one election.
"The people generally are beginning
to realize that hide bound partyism
does not benefit them," declared the
Executive Council. "All too frequently
they have learned that pledges in
party platforms were not always re
sDected but were used simply as Il
stepping stone to office. The Exc
cutive Council believes that as a result
of its non-partisan political policy
the launching of third party move
meats has been proved wasted effort
and injurious to the desire to elect
candidates with favorable records.
The 1922 and 1924 political camnaigns
definitely determined this fact. E,x-
perience therefore has taught labor
that to be successful politically il
must continue in the future as in the
past to follow its non-partisan politi-
cal policy"
Another feature of the declarations
is that an active campaign to interest
woman wage eanerS and their SYM
pathizers will be carried on during
the primary and election campaigns.
Since l906, POS laws urged by labor
have been enacted and several hundred
detrimental to labor and the people
defeated.