OCR Text |
Show UNION MEN IN POLITICS H There are two movements on in labor circles intended to make H the weight of tic labor vote felt in the coming election. One is the labor party, which plans to have an independent labor ticket. Cer- H tain politicians of the old parties hope this organization will grow 1 strong enough to eliminate the labor vote. Working independent, H the labor vote is not feared, but the big political forces do object to t the Gompers plan of throwing the .entire- union strength to the side H least objectionable to the American Federation of Labor. By so doing H 1 the union men majr become the balance of power and defeat or elect H candidates in the Republican or Democratis parties. H In explaining the political attitude of the federation, President H Gompers says: H ; "The enemies of labor arc the enemies of the people, and the H ' friends of labor are the friends of the people. The council has ' received reports of the organization of local campaign committees H in every important section of the nation. x H "We find a growing determination to rid the nation of such H policies as have engaged the attention of the present congress H policies calculated to repress and coerce. We find a growing resent- ment against governmental impotence in dealiug with the high cost H of living, a problem which is paramount in every home in the land, H : We have given this subject most careful consideration and we have H prepared a comprehensive and constructive program for meeting this H great issue. Wc call attention to the fact that there has been pro- H j duced from- no" other quarter a program of this nature. The problem H - grows more acute each day. The labor movement of America is the H ,r only hope of the people." H ' Mr. Gompers should be more explicit in defining his remedy for H ; high, ..prices. So far the brightest economists and financiers have H failed to -agrcGvo;c the cause of high prices or the ( remedy. ''K'tC S ' |