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Show LABOR ENTERS Ml CAMPAIGN i Forces of Organized Workers on Railroads Are the Driving Power BIT i-trederiok m. kkrby, N, E, A. Staff Correspondent. ' WASHINGTON, D. C, May 27. For the first time in its history, the forces of organized labor are entering a real I political campaign. The -4 00 delegates ' who will represent more than four, million organized trade unionists at ( the forthcoming convention of the A. ' F. of L. at Montreal, June 7, will hear a report on the progress of the political campaign inaugurated by La-1 bor Feb. 20 last. , ( President Gompors. whose personal--ity has dominated tho movement for1 -10 years, has always fought against! political action by Labor. Had it not been for the organization ' of a" tremendous new force the 17 railroad organizations, which Include the big four railroad brotherhoods.' outside the federation and 13 unions of the A. F.-of L., under the leadership1 of Uert M. Jewell, head of the railroad rail-road department of the Federation ' all of them combined in the Plumb Plan League, the labor political campaign cam-paign would probably never have been undertaken. Rnll Men Behind Drive. I Theso organized railroad men are! the .driving 'force behind the cam- paign i At .the head of their political com-1 mittec is former Congressman Edward ! "Keating of Colorado, one of the1 shrewdest politicians in the country. ! Assisting him Is a staff of trained I campaign workers who have mapped ' out the country and determined where I to concontrato their forces. . Already in 130 congressional dis-i tricts, the personnel is trained and' ready to man the district. , Keallng's committee is working smoothly with the A. F. of L. National Non-Partisan Campaign Committee. The federation committee consists of -President: Gompors, Secretary Frank Morrison and James O'Connell. ; Crucial Fight. Practically, this resolves, itself into' a struggle in about 50 congressional districts, which aro crucial. In addi-' tion, senatorial fights, the most spec-j tacular of which is against Senator Cummins In Iowa, where Colonel Smith Brookohart has received the combined support of farmers and labor la-bor men will occupy attention. j Tho federation convention will determine de-termine tho "acid teats" which are to decide finally whether a candidate is ' tea acceptable to labor or not. Tests to be propod at the convention conven-tion are these. The candidate must be opposed to any form of anti-strike legislation. He must opposo compulsory arbltra-' tion He must oppose tho use of In-1 junctions in labor disputes. H must I oppose the Esch-Cummins bill and! favor government ownership of railroads, rail-roads, their democratic management, with participation by labor In management. manage-ment. He must favor public ownership owner-ship of natural resources and public; utilities. He must opposo compulsory I military training. He must favor the I restoration of freedom of speech, press' and assemblage. He must favor the principle of referendum on national legislation. He must favor the election elec-tion of (he judges of the" supreme court with the right of the people to recall them, and the nullification of the right of tho supreme court to declare de-clare laws unconstitutional. He must favor profits taxation, and the heavy increase of taxes on higher incomes, inheritances and land values. oo- |