Labor politics American style

State federations of labor have been the political arms of organized labor for more than 100 years, and the California State Federation is one of the most interesting examples. Labor historian Philip Taft traces the activities, policies, and problems of the Federation from its beginnings in 1901 until the merger of the AFL-CIO in 1958. The attitudes on migrant labor and the controversial McNamara and Mooney cases are discussed, as well as the changing views of the Federation over the years. In the process, the author explores the reasons why organized labor in the United States did not commit itself to a third party. Instead of reviewing the debates of national labor leaders, Taft focuses on the sentiments and needs of the workers at the grassroots level and examines their critical role in determining the character of organized labor's political tactics. Throughout his study, he emphasizes the significance of the California Federation as a political institution and relates its development to the growth of the labor movement in the United States.--From publisher description.