Pure and Simple Politics: The American Federation of Labor and Political Activism, 1881 - 1917

Scholarship on American labor politics has been dominated by the view that the American Federation of Labor, the dominant labor organization, rejected political action in favor of economic strategies. Based upon extensive research into labor and political party records, this study demonstrates that, despite the common belief, the AFL devoted great attention to political activity. The organization's main strategy, however, which Julie Greene terms 'pure and simple politics', dictated that trade unionists alone should shape American labor politics. Exploring the period from 1881 to 1917, Pure and Simple Politics focuses on the quandaries this approach generated for American trade unionists. Politics for AFL members became a highly contested terrain, as leaders attempted to implement a strategy which many rank-and-file workers rejected. Furthermore, its drive to achieve political efficacy increasingly exposed the AFL to forces beyond its control, as party politicians and other individuals began seeking to influence labor's political strategy and tactics. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Dedication......Page 7 Contents......Page 9 Acknowledgments......Page 11 Introduction......Page 15 The Historians and American Labor Politics......Page 18 State and Society in Progressive America......Page 26 PART ONE The Rise of Pure and Simple Politics......Page 31 CHAPTER ONE Building the Federation......Page 33 The Social Roots of the AFL......Page 34 Preserving the Trade Unions......Page 41 Gompers and the Triumph of Conservative Unionism......Page 50 CHAPTER TWO The Revolt Against Party Slavery......Page 62 The Problem of Working-Class Politics......Page 63 The Birth of “Pure and Simple” Politics......Page 69 Gompers’s Political Vision......Page 78 CHAPTER THREE Labor’s New Century......Page 85 The Federation’s Political Agenda......Page 87 The Open-Shop Drive......Page 102 Lobbying and Class Conflict......Page 107 Beyond Lobbying......Page 111 PART TWO The Strike at the Ballot Box......Page 119 CHAPTER FOUR A Popular Uprising of Honest Men......Page 121 Labor’s Program......Page 122 Resources at the Top......Page 126 Tactics at the Bottom......Page 132 Political Conflict in the AFL......Page 145 CHAPTER FIVE Delivering the Labor Vote......Page 156 Partisan Culture and the Working Class......Page 157 The Birth of Labor’s Democracy......Page 166 Shall the People Rule?......Page 176 Prosperity Politics......Page 184 CHAPTER SIX Party Politics and Workers’ Discontent......Page 195 Workers and the Campaign......Page 196 The Local Face of Labor Politics......Page 210 Workers Deliver Their Votes......Page 224 PART THREE The Retreat from Popular Politics......Page 229 Rebellion Within and Without......Page 231 Labor’s Elite Politics......Page 239 The Changing Terrain of American Politics......Page 245 CHAPTER EIGHT The Making of Labor’s Democracy......Page 256 AFL Politics and the New Democratic Order......Page 257 Recasting American Labor Politics......Page 263 Workers and the 1916 Presidential Campaign......Page 273 Conclusion......Page 288 Index......Page 301 Cover 1 Half-title 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Dedication 7 Contents 9 Acknowledgments 11 Introduction 15 The Historians and American Labor Politics 18 State and Society in Progressive America 26 PART ONE The Rise of Pure and Simple Politics 31 CHAPTER ONE Building the Federation 33 The Social Roots of the AFL 34 Preserving the Trade Unions 41 Gompers and the Triumph of Conservative Unionism 50 CHAPTER TWO The Revolt Against Party Slavery 62 The Problem of Working-Class Politics 63 The Birth of “Pure and Simple” Politics 69 Gompers’s Political Vision 78 CHAPTER THREE Labor’s New Century 85 The Federation’s Political Agenda 87 The Open-Shop Drive 102 Lobbying and Class Conflict 107 Beyond Lobbying 111 PART TWO The Strike at the Ballot Box 119 CHAPTER FOUR A Popular Uprising of Honest Men 121 Labor’s Program 122 Resources at the Top 126 Tactics at the Bottom 132 Political Conflict in the AFL 145 CHAPTER FIVE Delivering the Labor Vote 156 Partisan Culture and the Working Class 157 The Birth of Labor’s Democracy 166 Shall the People Rule? 176 Prosperity Politics 184 CHAPTER SIX Party Politics and Workers’ Discontent 195 Workers and the Campaign 196 The Local Face of Labor Politics 210 Workers Deliver Their Votes 224 PART THREE The Retreat from Popular Politics 229 CHAPTER SEVEN Quiet Campaigns 231 Rebellion Within and Without 231 Labor’s Elite Politics 239 The Changing Terrain of American Politics 245 CHAPTER EIGHT The Making of Labor’s Democracy 256 AFL Politics and the New Democratic Order 257 Recasting American Labor Politics 263 Workers and the 1916 Presidential Campaign 273 Conclusion 288 Index 301 Scholarship On American Labor Politics Has Been Dominated By The View That The American Federation Of Labor, The Leading Labor Organization In The Earliest Twentieth Century, Rejected Political Action In Favor Of Economic Strategies. Based On Extensive Research Into Labor And Political Party Records, This Study Demonstrates That, In Fact, The Afl Devoted Great Attention To Political Activity. The Organization's Main Strategy, However, Which Julie Greene Calls Pure And Simple Politics, Dictated That Trade Unionists Alone Should Shape American Labor Politics. Exploring The Period From 1881 To 1917, Pure And Simple Politics Focuses On The Quandaries This Approach Generated For American Trade Unionists. Pt. 1. The Rise Of Pure And Simple Politics. 1. Building The Federation. The Social Roots Of The Afl. Preserving The Trade Unions. Gompers And The Triumph Of Conservative Unionism. 2. The Revolt Against Party Slavery. The Problem Of Working-class Politics. The Birth Of Pure And Simple Politics. Gompers's Political Vision. 3. Labor's New Century. The Federation's Political Agenda. The Open-shop Drive. Lobbying And Class Conflict. Beyond Lobbying -- Pt. 2. The Strike At The Ballot Box. 4. A Popular Uprising Of Honest Men. Labor's Program. Resources At The Top. Tactics At The Bottom. Political Conflict In The Afl. 5. Delivering The Labor Vote. Partisan Culture And The Working Class. The Birth Of Labor's Democracy. Shall The People Rule? Julie Greene. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Scholarship on American labor politics has been dominated by the view that the American Federation of Labor, the leading labor organization in the earliest twentieth century, rejected political action in favor of economic strategies. Based on extensive research into labor and political party records, this study demonstrates that, in fact, the AFL devoted great attention to political activity. The organization's main strategy, however, which Julie Greene calls 'pure and simple politics,' dictated that trade unionists alone should shape American labor politics. Exploring the period from 1881 to 1917, Pure and Simple Politics focuses on the quandaries this approach generated for American trade unionists. Politics for AFL members became a highly contested terrain, as leaders attempted to implement a strategy that many rank-and-file workers rejected. Furthermore, its drive to achieve political efficacy increasingly exposed the AFL to forces beyond its control, as party politicians and other individuals began seeking to influence labor's political strategy and tactics. This study explores the political evolution of the U.S. labor movement, focusing on its dominant organization, the American Federation of Labor, during a key period (1881 to 1917) of transformation in U.S. political history. Julie Greene documents the AFL's entrance into electoral politics and the emergence of the important alliance between the AFL and the Democratic party, explaining the causes and impact of these developments. In early December of 1886, thirty-eight trade unionists converged on Druids' Hall in Columbus, Ohio, hoping to create a new nationwide labor federation.