Show I DAl IGHT HU HUNDRED candidates for seats scats in inthe IJ 41 the senate and lower house of the national lat e will ver very soon know ju just t about f. f tow kow Damocles felt as he sat banqueting with R K s si single gle hair holding a a 8 nice sharp sword over his his' he head d They are about to be put on the t by bt the American erica 1 Federation of Labor abor t b To ea each h nominee goes a questionnaire demanding de de- de- de manding a y yes s or n no answer to queries as as aso t o then their stand on labors labor's six-point six program for fori foroi i Social o oi l. l legislation Failure re to reply would be on construed tru d 8 said i President William Villiam Green as evidence that the candidate is opposed to the and labor organizations organizations' throughout t she be e ena na nation Q will ill 11 be advised accordingly At jW Washington federation headquarters it was wf Stated t d with emphasis that that all successful candi candi- ate ates' ates vill be held eld to th their ir pledges t ti i That at comes ornes pretty close to asking a blind bUnd folded man man to sign a petition The legislation J- J Jt t e p program g aD aDin in eludes l des Thirty hour wc week kl klI I hour ix-hour h ur ay j ext extension of T R A j y- y I ent e t insurance uran eoll old age ge pen pensions ions new ne pu public lic program and l abor labor dispute legislation Both Soth oth i m major joI political parties through their i fl spokesmen p es ri hav n d their tl ons n to pres ress f for r. r social legislation at the n nex next ct o of con congress es President Roosevelt did 4 soju so just stef before he left reft for his H Hawaiian vacation J ri h Republican p bi A national r t a committee o did the thc i same in its st statement of policy at the Chicago reorganization meeting There is widespread approval heard from all sections of the nation Each candidate doubtless has las his convictions in ill the matter some very definite some rather nebulous None can know in just what form any measure will come before his vote until the thc roll 1011 call In such circumstances it would be bc a rash individual incH indi vidual who would answer yes or no uno noto to questions as broad and sweeping as those in labors labor's questionnaire In most cases it would be bea a plain indication that the candidate would sign anything to get a vote YOW Such timber is not the sort from irom which to choose members for forthe forthe forthe the house and senate Labors Labor's departure from its time-honored time traditions of standing for or against a man on his record is of basic principles of democratic government It is a display of force and intimidation It puts a higher value on a campaign promise than n upon character and performance The electorate can ean do no better than make its choice after closest examination of both of these selecting men and women of ability and trustworthiness upon whom th they y may rely to represent them thern with am an eye s single to serving honestly the national interest and their constituencies even even at the sac sacrifice of personal convictions s. s It is not Dot p possible to have representative government otherwise This gesture coming so so clos close to opening of the f federations federation's annual convention will be bc interpreted in many quarters as a bid by President President President dent Grcen Green for support in his own campaign for reelection Opposition toward him has been steadily growing as a result of wl what at the thc thc- more militant forces regard as his too conservative attitude in in the direction of A. A F. F of L. L affairs |