The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1947-05-09


provision was that the members organized labor
should strive establish political unity of purpose
This is borne out by further declaration of the
1881 meeting a.. struggle is going in the nations
of civilized world between the oppressors and the
oppressed of all countries struggle between capital
and labor, which must grow in intensity from year to
year work disastrous results to the toilng millions
of all nations if not combined for mutual protection and
benefit :"
This orientng of the elder branch of American labor
toward political action through its political
party however was shortlived. Within few years the
mo labor in politics faction, headed by Samuel Comp
became firmly entrenched the dominent policy
making force of the labor movement.
1t the consensus of the more conservative wing
that labor could "do business with both old
line capitalist parties and from the latter SOS to
the present the AFL has followed the Gompers policy
Instead of establishing workngmans party, the AFL
has confined its political activities to endorsing its
friends and opposing its enemies at the various political
levels.
Possibly conditions such during the earlier
years of the American Federation of Labor that
immediate gains to be had by working within the
frameworks of the old parties. However this pre-
mise of the Gompers faction and of William Green
since his ascendency in 1924 does not appear sound.
Particularly when it is considered that in all the years
OF activity on the part of the ALL there were only two
administrations Wilson's and Franklin Roosevets-
which made any really sincere attempts to establish
labor equal partner with other groups in our
great American enterprise
For the part the policy of both old parties has
been of betrayal. This is not to say that there
haven't been friends of labor" in both the
and Republican parties who have fought valiantly
improve the status of workers. Indeed history
replete with embracing the principles of Jefferson
Jackson Lincoln, Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt-but
in each instance these humanitarians first,
and party members second
Coming down to the present find in political life
the Taylors, Peppers Aikens, Murrays and Walaces,
who, lovers of Democracy, fighting doggedly to
the ordinary American citizen from and
political serfdom
hack he Of tho
years thing is abunGantly pain-abors legal gains
in relying upon both of the old parties have been
achieved in haphazard manner rather than through
the execution of a well-conceved long term plan of
political action.
Instead of having its political organization to
bring about lasting improvements the average in
dvidual labor for the most part has had accept the
crumbs from the old parties. Both the COP and the
Demos overall strategy has been give labor enough
in the way of beneficial legislation keep the labor
movement from becoming politically miant-from or
ganizing its national political party Anything thus
given can just as easily be taken away-as witness
what is happening today in Washington throughout
this land of
LIFE AND DEATH STRUGGLE SHAPING UP
The ease with which over a half century of hardwon
gains through the old parties be swept away is
rightsnow being amply demonstrated in the congress
and labor because of it's traditional adherence to
having its party finds itself in a weakened
position.
Witness the with which the Hartley bill CHR
'O20) was steam-roered through the house 307-1OS
Ihls DILL II enacted, will place working in a posi-
ion comparable that of the workers of threeouarers
of century ago. In final analysis it will break the
pack OF the American labor movement Please note
hat than 20 Democrats joined with over 200 Re-
oublicans to this billathough both old parties
lad faithfully promised the 1916 elections TO
protect the rights of labor
Witness also the TaftBall bill (S.1126) which, while
'ouched in mider terms, would also go far to make
workers second class citizens. This probably
a ali
With Is Democrats joining the Republican