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CONDENSED MILK

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AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR

Warning to Advertisers!

Protect yourselves from being defrauded. Read the following Report of the Executive Council and action of the Convention of the American Federation of Labor, at Scranton, Pa., on December 14, 1901, in reference to DECEPTIVE PUBLICATIONS:

A

TRADES

NUMBER of souvenir books have been published in which the name of the American Federation of Labor has been used without authority or sanction of any kind from either the American Federation of Labor or its officers. The good name of our movement is thereby impaired, the interests of our fellow-workers injured, and fair-minded business men imposed upon and deceived. During the year we have endeavored to impress upon all that the only publication in which advertisements are received is our official monthly magazine, the AMERICAN Federationist; and we have also endeavored to influence a more straightforward course by those who have transgressed in the direction indicated. In this particular we have not been as successful as we should be pleased to be enabled to report to you. However, we are more concerned with the future than the past; and in order to be helpful in eliminating this cause of grievous complaint, we make the following recommendations:

FIRST-That we shall insist that no body of organized labor, nor shall any person issue a souvenir book claiming that such bock or any other publication is issued for or on behalf of the American Federation of Labor.

SECOND-That any city chosen by a convention of the American Federation of Labor to hold the convention following shall not directly or indirectly through its Central Labor Union or otherwise issue a souvenir book claiming that such book is issued for or on behalf of the American Federation of Labor.

THIRD-That in the event of any such souvenir book being projected or about to be issued, directly or indirectly, by the Central Labor body in the city in which the convention was selected to be held, in violation of the letter and spirit of these recommendations, the Executive Council may change the city in which the convention is to be held to the one which received the next highest number of votes for that honor.

FOURTH-That the Executive Council is hereby directed to prosecute any person or persons in the courts who shall in any way issue souvenir books, directories or other publications in which the name of the American Federation of Labor is used as publisher, owner or beneficiary.

FIFTH-That it be again emphasized that the AMERICAN FEDERATIONIST is the official monthly magazine of the American Federation of Labor, and is the only publication in which advertisements are received. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, A. F. OF L.

Report of Committee to Convention on the Above Report.

Perhaps there has been no more prolific source of dishonesty perpetrated in the name of organized labor than that involved in the publication of souvenir books. Unscrupulous projectors have victimized merchants and other friends of the movement in a most shameful fashion, and your committee heartily agrees with the strictures of the Executive Council upon the subject. We emphatically agree with the suggestions offered as a remedy and recommend their adoption. As an additional means to this end we would recommend that there be published in a conspicuous place in each issue of the AMERICAN FEDERATIONIST a notice to the effect that the American Federation of Labor is not sponsor nor interested in any souvenir publication of any kind.

CAA

AMERIK

F

EDERATION

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LABOR.

Adopted by the Convention of the American Federation of Labor, December 14, 1901.

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Vol. XIX.

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ORGO WOV 15TH 1881.

DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS AND VOICING THE DEMANDS OF THE
TRADE UNION MOVEMENT

OCTOBER, 1912.

LABOR'S POLITICAL

CAMPAIGN.

ITS CAUSES AND PROGRESS-
LABOR'S DUTY.

TH

By SAMUEL GOMPERS.

HE political activity of the American Federaton of Labor has ever
conformed to one policy. Our campaigns have never varied in nature,

only in emphasis. From its organization the American Federation
of Labor has advocated independent use of the ballot and non-partisan co-
operation of the workers for the election to political offices of men from their
own ranks that laws promoting the interests of Labor might be enacted and
administered according to standards confirmed by our experiences as best
adapted to further the welfare of the working people. In the course of in-
dustrial and political development it came to pass that the great financial
and industrial powers began to make the most unscrupulous and pernicious
use of their influence over the political agents and machinery of our Gov-
ernment, executive, legislative and judicial, to the end that these forces
might be used against Labor in its struggles to secure economic better-
ment, social and moral uplift. Courts, by constantly usurping authority,
by misuse of their power through interpreting laws, and by indiscriminate
and unwarranted issuance of injunctions in labor disputes, were restricting
the normal and necessary activities of labor organizations.

No. 10

Organized labor found the accustomed channels of legislative relief no longer adequate or even accessible. Congress took no notice of our wrongs or demands for remedial legislation. Yet congressional action was imperative for progress. Because of this apathetic or actually hostile attitude of Congress, a more insistent course was determined. The presidents of all the affiliated national and international unions were invited to meet the Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor at headquarters on March 21, 1906, and participate in a conference relative to legislative and administrative conditions. This conference unanimously and enthusiastically prepared and adopted the document which will live in history known as 'Labor's Bill of Grievances."

This document specifically called attention to: Non-enforcement of laws enacted in the interest of labor; the abuse of the injunction writ; the application of the Anti-Trust law to labor organizations; the denial by executive order of the right of petition to Government employes; the denial of rights to seamen and other matters of vital interest to the workers of our country. The "Bill of Grievances" was formally presented to the President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt; the President pro tem. of the Senate, William P. Frye; and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Joseph G. Cannon. Its presentation was a declaration that the organized labor movement purposed to hold accountable those who were responsible for legislation enacted or for the failure to act upon legislative demands.

The inauguration of this declared purpose came in the following June when organized labor made a formal and aggressive entrance in the Second Congressional District of Maine to defeat for re-election Charles E. Littlefield-a most conspicuous and bitter enemy of labor. This campaign served a twofold purpose: It established a practical illustration of the significance of Labor's declaration that men in public affairs would be held responsible for their actions and it roused the working people to the seriousness of the situation and the dangers imminent, and proved to them that they possessed the political power through intelligent use of the ballot to secure such legislative remedies as were needed.

The year 1906 marks the beginning of more definite, concerted, organized participation in national politics by organized labor to the end that members favorable to their interests, or men from their own ranks, should be elected to Congress. As a result of the campaign of that year, some of those most hostile to Labor were not returned to office, six trade unionists were elected to Congress, and the course of action of those in office began to be more sympathetic. The small group of union card Congressmen signalized the direct participation of organized labor in the proceedings of the Federal Government, and its avowed intention of using its political strength as direct forces as well as a balance of power that would bring definite advantages. It was indisputable evidence that results would be secured.

In the presidential campaign of 1908, the demands of the workers were presented to the parties in convention. The dominant party again turned a deaf ear. The Democratic party solemnly obligated itself, if placed in

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