| OCR Text |
Show II FEDERATION LABOR LEADERS , ENDORSE PRESIDENT WILSON Samuel Gompers, President of A. F. of L., and Other Officers HI Urge Workers to Support Present Administration at ( Nov. 7 Election Letter Cites Much Legislation 111 Beneficial to Organized Labor. IM In view of the campaign state-UnlS state-UnlS Ments by Republican leaders and fill speakers in the employ of the fflj! Hughes National Alliance that j Charles E. Hughes is a friend of li labor, the request of Samuel Gonial Goni-al pers, president, and other officers of Hill tne American Federation of Labor 111 for united workers to support PreBl-(! PreBl-(! dent Wilson and the Democratic ad-I1J ad-I1J ministration is of nation-wide lmport-jfn lmport-jfn ance. The request by the federation m officials advises that never at any 1(1 time in the last fifty years have ll 9 e worers naa" more at stake in lllfl political campaign than in the (If 0110 8 (ec(ec Tvem" ID In reviewing the record of the present administration the letter of IHI the Federation officials praises the llfl course taken by President Wilson in forolgn affairs, declaring that with-11 with-11 jl out war he has secured all the profit pro-fit tection and benefits that would have II II accrued from a successful war, and 1! asserts that at home the labor move-nil move-nil ment "has been able to secure recog-lj recog-lj nition for the rights of human bell be-ll nes an opportunity for all to partial parti-al ! cipato in the affairs of the nation in Jj a degree that never before has been It accomplished." I S The following are extracts from HUH tlio lottor cenf nut tr union nrtranlM. Itions throughout the United States: "During the present administration, and particularly in this campaign, there has been developed a clear-cut issue between the-workers" the producers pro-ducers and those who manipulate the products of the labor of others the exploiters. The issue is represented repre-sented in the campaign by the conflicting con-flicting interests represented by labor la-bor and Wall street. "During the present administration administra-tion the organized labor movement has been able to secure recognition for the rights of human beings and opportunity for all to participate In the affairs of the nation in a degree that has never been accomplished before. be-fore. Kept Out of War. "Though half of the world has been involved in a terrific conflict, and it seemed at times as though our nation must be drawn into the vortex of human slaughter, yet the chief executive ex-ecutive of our land has been able to manage the affairs of the nation and the interests of our citizens so that without the horrors of war he has Mi established and maintained protec- III tion of human life and human rights Mil lu the somewhat vague domain of in- It ternational law. Without involving Uu this nation in war, he has secured for flf us all of the protection and all of mm the benefits that would have accrued MM from a successful international war, I and by diplomatic correspondence has Mm achieved the victory of embodying Mi concepts of humanity in international I , activity, in so far as America is con- I 'corned. I "What has been true in the case mm of the European war, alBO is true in tho case with the relations between nl our country and Mexico. U "The Interests that have been 1 seeking to plunge our country Into MM war not only with European cSun- MM tries, but also with Mexico, are the Mm' I?'.?8 represented by the most sel- Hi fl8n and most conscienceless element of Wall street. Recognition .Secured. "So far as the internal affairs of our country are concerned the organized organ-ized labor movement, as tho authorized author-ized representative of the wage earners, earn-ers, has demanded for them, the right of participation in all the affairs of the nation and has secured recognition recogni-tion to that demand in a degree never nev-er before realized. "During the past four years there has been enacted by congress and signed by President Wilson humanitarian protective pro-tective legislation 1 unprecedented In amount and scope. .Legislative enactment en-actment has secured to wage earners fundamental rights necessary for the very existence of the organization of labor, without which wage earners would have nothing of freedom and no real opportunity for self-betterment." Change in Spirit. After mentioning the eight-hour day act, the seamen's law and the child labor law, the letter adds: "It is impossible to give the full list of remedial and protective legislation legis-lation that carries its beneficent influences in-fluences into the homes of millions of America's workers. "On November 7 election day a decision will be made which will determine de-termine the future development of our country and the spirit of our national na-tional Hff fnr vo.irc fn nnma "There is no doubt that the interests inter-ests of Wall street and their satellites satel-lites all over, the country arc and will continue their activity to retain the special privileges and power that they have secretively and corruptly stolen from the people. "While property must be protected and respected, man men, women and children, human beings must be the first consideration." "Wage earners cannot afford to lose their rights and opportunities through negligence and inaqtion. "Meet, discuss the great issues to be decided on election day, November Novem-ber 7, and then go to tho polls, cast your vote as your conscience dictates, dic-tates, for labor, justice, freedom and humanity." |
