Show I r I Which Party Is Labors Friend t Compare the Two r A Statement by Samuel Gompers President of the American Federation of Labor and His Executive Council in m Which the Facts Are Presented as They Are Viewed by the Foremost Labor Organization of the World This Relation of Conditions Past Present and Future Is Absolutely NonPartisan During Durin recent weeks there has ap pear d in public prints much concern Ing the th position taken by the American Federation of or Labor the foremost la bor organisation In all the world to which millions of or wage earners direct ly Jy and indirectly owe allegiance In the tho Republican press the utterances of or Samuel Gompers the tho president of or the American Federation and the public statements issued tover over the signatures of or Mr oIl Gompers and his executive committee have been distorted to the point of or outrageous license The statements of or President GomPers Gom Gompers pers and his associates as the heads head of or the American Federation are now In general circulation Each union affil with the American Federation di directly directly directly or through its state slate or local cen bodies will receive a copy of or the address to all organized labor together r with a copy of or an urgent appeal for a full and deliberate consideration of or the matter maHer contained therein These will wille I be e read In union meetings but there thor may be some who by b reason of or the na nature nature nature ture of or their hours of or employment or their occupation who will not be pres present present present ent at the reading of or these official doc doe documents the first of or the kind ever over pro promulgated promUlgated promulgated by b any great national or In International International body bod and therefore It is that The Herald presents that which Mr Gompers on behalf of or the Ameri American American AmerIcan can Federation of or Labor has to say In connection with the political campaign which is now fairly begun It should be borne In mind always alwa s that Mr Ir Gompers does not urge the election of or this or that candidate Throughout he alms to submit the facts as they thy are arc and his appeal Is for a consideration of the points submitted regardless of or partisan beliefs or party affiliations This Is the address directed to All AllOr Organized Or Labor Dear SIts Sirs and Brothers In accord accordance accordance ance with the instructions of or the executive executive executive tive council c of or the American Federation of or Labor we its officers desire to call to your our attention the attitude as ex expressed expressed expressed pressed In their platforms of the two great political parties in regard to la labors labors labors bors demands The president and members of or the executive council of or the American Fed Federation Federation Federation of or Labor attended both the Re Rr Republican Republican publican and Democratic conventions for tor the purpose of presenting labors demands and asking their incorporation In the platforms in a manner which clearly affirm the position of or the workers especially In relation to the abuse of or the Injunction and the right of or the workers to organize and carry carryon on the legitimate business of organization without being classed as trusts under the supreme court Interpretation of or the Sherman antitrust law The two great parties s nave have nominated ed cd their candidates for president for lor congress and other places They are appealing to you for tor support It Is most Important that you ou should know at nt first hand and officially what treatment treat treatment treatment ment was accorded labor Jabor in their great conventions where their official policy was as formulated The national convention of or the Re Republican RepUblican Republican publican party at Chicago refused to Incorporate the demands of or labor in Its platform and instead inserted a plank on Injunctions which endorses the ex existing existing abuse of the Injunction as ap applied applied applied plied to labor disputes The Democratic convention a at Den Denver Dener ver er on the other hand made labors demands a part of or Its platform The members of or the executive coun dl of or the tho American Federation F of or La bor acting as your representatives formulated labors Jabors demands and with the Hie exception of or the preamble offered olIer d them In exactly the same phraseology to both the Republican and Democratic conventions as follows I We Te therefore pledge the party to the en enactment enactment en enactment of or a law by congress guarantee guaranteeing ing to the wage earners agriculturalists and of or our country the right of or organized effort to the end that such associations or their members shall not be regarded as Illegal combinations in restraint of or trade We e pledge ourselves to the enactment of a law to prohibit the Issuance of or In Injunctions Injunctions Injunctions junctions In cases arising out of or labor dis disputes disputes disputes when such Injunctions would not apply appl when no labor disputes existed and that In no case shall an Injunction be is issued Issued issued sued when there exists a remedy by the ordinary process of or law and which act shall provide that In the procedure for forthe forthe the punishment of or contempt of or court the party cited for contempt shall when such stich contempt was not committed in the pres presence presence ence of or the court be entitled to a trial by Jury Wo We Vo pledge the party to the enactment of or On the one hand we have a Republican congress absolutely refusing to enact the demands of the workers for right and equitable legislation and boasting that it is willing to take the consequences Following this action cUon of congress we have the convention of the Republican party scorning labors demands and adopting a injunction plank which Is an Insult to the intelligence of every voter vote rin in the land A plank which declares for the continuation and perpetuation of the abuse of the injunction process In its arbitrary application to labor disputes I an amendment extending the existing law to all government and to all workers whether employed ed by contractors or subcontractors doing work for or on behalf of or the federal government govern government ment We Ve pledge the party to the enactment of or ofa ora ofa a law by congress as far fan as the federal jurisdiction extends for tor a general employ employers ers liability act for or Injury to body or loss of or life lire of o employ s We Ve pledge pledl e the party to the enactment of ot a law to the extent of or federal jurisdiction tion granting suffrage and to submit a constitutional amendment for ratification to the states for the absolute suffrage of ot women coequal with men We Vc pledge the party to the enactment of or ofa ora ofa a law creating a department of or labor sep separate separate separate arate from any an existing department with witha a secretary at its head having a seat in the presidents cabinet We pledge the party to the th enactment of ot a law for the creation 01 or a federal I bureau of or mines and mining preferably under the proposed department of or labor and the appropriation of or sufficient funds to thoroughly Investigate the cause ot of mine disasters so that laws and regula regulations regulations may ma be recommended and enacted which will prevent the terrible maiming and loss of or life in the mines We I pledge pledl C the party to the enactment of or a law for the establishment of or United States government postal savings banks In response to labors demands the Republican convention adopted the following fol following following lowing alleged injunction plank The Republican party part will uphold at all times the authority and integrity of the courts state and federal and will ever insist that their powers to enforce their process and to protect life liberty and property shall be preserved inviolate We Ve believe however that the rules ot of pro dure In the federal courts with re respect respect respect to the Issuance of the writ of ot in injunctions Injunctions Injunctions junctions should be more accurately de defined defined fined tined by statute and that no injunction or temporary restraining order should be Issue without notice except where ir irreparable Irreparable irreparable reparable Injury would result from delay dela delaIn In which case a speedy hearing there thereafter thereafter thereafter after should be granted At a glance the plank Republican dec dee declarations declarations on injunctions adopted will be seen to be an evasion of ot the Issue It is isan ISan isan an endorsement of or the very e abuse against i We cannot expect the Interests and those who are hostile to labor to aid us in our just contention The forces of corporate power and the Van are sinking their differences and concentrating their fight against labor An op opportunity opportunity opportunity is now presented to the wage earners of our country to ad administer administer administer minister a stinging effective and nd lasting rebuke to our antagonists and to secure the justice and the rights which are ours by every con constitutional constitutional guarantee and by the principles upon which our republic is founded which labor has Justly protested and would If It enacted by b congress give the authority of or law for the issuance of In Injunctions injunctions injunctions junctions in labor disputes an authority which does not now exist If It is a pro Injunction not an declaration declaration declaration It would make more acute the wrongs by which the toilers are forced to bear the unjust judicial burden of ot In Injunction Injunction Injunction junction discrimination The Democratic convention placed the following planks In its platform In re response response response to labors demands u L uL L ji AI At a u glance uio Ine the plank planK Republican declarations on n Injunction adopted will willbe willbe willbe be seen een to be an evasion of oC the issue It H is an endorsement of the very cry abuse against which labor has justly protest protested ed and would If Ir enacted by congress give the authority of oC law for the thc Is Issuance Issuance issuance of or Injunctions In labor disputes an authority which does not now exist It Is a si not an junction declaration It would make m ke more acute the wrongs by which the toilers are ar forced to bear the unjust judicial burden of injunction discrimination discrimination discrimInation The Democratic convention placed the following planks In its platform in re response to labors demands Labor Planks Adopted by Democratic Convention v 4 The courts of or justice are the bul but 4 wark of our liberties and we yield f 4 to none in our purpose to maintain f ff f their dignity Our party has given to the bench a long Ion line of f 4 judges who have added to the respect and confidence In which f this department must be jealously 4 4 maintained We Ve resent the attempt 4 of or the Republican party to raise mise a 4 4 false issue respecting the judiciary 4 4 it 1 t Is an unjust reflection upon a great 4 4 body bod of or our citizens to assume that 4 they lack respect for the courts f if It Is the function of or the courts to At a glance the plank Republican declaration on injunctions adopted will be seen to be an evasion of the issue It is an endorse endorsement endorsement endorsement ment of the very abuse against which labor has justly protested and would if enacted by congress give the authority of law for the issuance Issuance issuance ance of injunctions in labor disputes s an authority which does not now exist It is a not an declaration It would make more acute the wrongs by which wh ich the toilers are forced to bear the unjust judicial burden of Injunction discrimination I 4 Interpret the laws which the people create and If the laws appear to 4 4 4 work economic social or political In Injustice injustice 4 Justice it Is our duty to change them 4 4 The only basis upon which the in integrity 4 of or our courts can stand is 4 4 that of or unswerving justice and pro prot protection f 4 of or life lICe personal liberty and f 4 t property If It Judicial processes may ma mabe maybe 4 4 be abused we should guard them f 4 against abuse 4 4 Experience has proven the necessity 4 sity of or a modification of ot the present f 4 law relating to Injunctions and we f 4 reiterate the pledge of or our national 4 4 platforms of 1896 1596 and 1004 1901 In favor tavor of or orthe 4 4 the measure which passed the Unit 4 4 ed States senate in 1836 1896 but which a 4 4 4 Republican congress has ever since 4 4 refused to enact relating to con 4 4 4 tempts In federal courts and provid f 4 4 Ing for trial by b Jury jur In case of o 4 4 contempt 4 Questions of or judicial practice have 4 4 arisen especially In connection with f 4 industrial disputes We e deem that f 4 the parties p to all Judicial proceedings f 4 should be treated with rigid Im f 4 partiality and that Injunctions should 4 not be Issued ls In any cases In which 4 4 Injunctions would not Issue If It no In 4 4 disputes were Involved 4 4 The expanding organization of ot in industry 4 4 makes it essential that there 4 4 should be no abridgment of ot the right f of or wage earners and producers to 4 4 organize for the protection of ot wages 4 and the Improvement of or labor condl 4 4 to the end that such labor or 4 f ff f and their members should f The expanding organization of industry makes It essential that there should be no abridgement of the rights of and pro producers producers producers to organize for the protection of wages and the improvement of labor conditions to the end that such labor organizations and their members should not be regarded as illegal combinations in restraint of trade 4 4 not be regarded as Illegal megal combing 4 In restraint of or trade 4 4 4 We Ve favor avor the day on all 4 4 government work 4 4 We Ve pledge the Democratic party to 4 4 4 the tho enactment of or a law by congress congees 4 4 4 as far as tHe federal jurisdiction ex extends extends 4 4 tends for a general employers 4 4 Ity act covering Injury to body bod or f 4 loss of life to es 4 4 4 We pledge the Democratic party part to 4 the enactment of a law creating a 4 4 department of labor represented sep 4 4 In the presidents cabinet t 4 i 4 which shall Include the subject of or 4 mines and mining Compare these planks with those sub submitted submitted submitted by the A F of or L for adoption They are substantially all that we ve vea asked a ked On the question of the Injunction abuse the Democratic platform declares for the principle which the workers have maintained viz That injunctions should not be Is Issued Issued issued sued In arty allY cases In which injunctions would not Issue If JC no industrial disputes were Involved Equally Equall clear and satisfactory is the declaration In favor of or exempting labor from the operation of the supreme court decision Danbury Danbur hatters case under the Sherman antitrust law The expanding organization of ot Indus Industry industry try t makes It essential that there should be no abridgment of the right of or wage earners and producers to organize for forthe forthe the he protection of wages and the im improvement Improvement improvement provement of labor conditions to the end that such labor organizations and their members should not be regarded as illegal combinations In restraint of ot trade The other declarations In the Demo Democratic Democratic Democratic cratic platform include things which the workers have demanded for many many years We Ve earnestly urge the workers and andall andaU andall all aU good citizens to consider most care carefully carefully fully rully and thoughtfully the attitude of the two great political parties toward the fundamental rights and principles embodied in labors demands Study |