Organized Labor in National Politics

Report Outline
Early Political Activities of Trade-Unions
Evolution of A. F. of L. Political Policies
Independent Political Action by Labor
Political Machinery of the A. F. of L.
Effectiveness of Labor's Non-Partisan Policy
Organized Labor and the 1928 Election

Neutrality toward the rival candidates for the presidency has been adopted as the official position of the American Federation of Labor in the 1928 campaign. In a statement announcing this decision, reached by the Executive Council of the Federation at Atlantic City the first week in August, the possibility was held out that a different position might be taken at a later stage of the campaign, but it is generally believed in labor circles that the Atlantic City decision will stand.

“We will await with great interest the expression of each of the candidates,” the Executive Council said, “reserving to ourselves a final decision regarding our future policy during the remainder of the campaign.”

Thus far there has been no move for reconsideration of the position taken at Atlantic City, although both Mr. Hoover and Governor Smith have expressed their political views and clarified - their positions on labor issues in their acceptance speeches. The Executive Council of the A. F. of L. is scheduled to meet again on October 18, twenty days in advance of the election, and will then have the opportunity of changing its previous stand, if future developments make the endorsement of one or the other of the major party candidates desirable.