The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-08-10
[From Pomeroy's Democrat.
The Labor Party And The Democ-
racy.

The other day we had a long inter
view with a prominent leader of the
Labor party of this country who cal
led to see us.
From him we learned
THAT the Labor party of the Uni
ted States never could and never
would affiliate with the Republican
party nor the Democratic party
That the Labor party of this IL
try intended to follow only the lead of
such men as were not identified with
either party until the workingmen had
a party of their own sufficiently large
TO manage the affairs of the nation,
and protect the people.
We were told the reasons why the
Labor Union men would not Join eth
er party.
They hate the Republican party be-
cause it has lied to them-has exempt
ed wealth and bonds from taxation to
tax poverty and money invested n
land, labor, and machinery, to enrich
wealth-has robbed the public domain
of lands to enrich corporations-has
put cheap negro labor above educated
white labor.
They hate the Democratic party be-
cause its directing officer" as they
say, is Belmont, a bondholder not in
sympathy with labor-because the
money of the rich b~ondholder and the
foreign capitalist controls Democratic
nom nations, and boasts the ownership
of poor men, to hold in United States
bondage all who labor.
And go, for these reasons, they hate
the two great parties. And so, like
wheat between the upper and neither
the Labor Party is to be
ground while the stones of POLITICAL
do continually revolve.
The gentleman with whom we had
the long conversation found fault with
the Democracy for the eason that
the Democracy would not take the
suggestions of the Labor Party at par.
We asked him this
How can the Democracy take your
suggestions and d~ictation when you
first and continually tell US you never
will affiliate with us? You tell us
this-insult us by coming with your
and then telling US to drop our
to pick up the party that says
it v will work with us! Where
is your right to dictate to a man or a
party you affect to despise 2
Answer us
Then said the gentleman
1--WE are doing well enough nov
In ten years we will stop donating the
lands as subsidies"
Humph! In fire years there soiu
not be a foot Of public land Congress has
not giyeia a1oay to silent pa, taers Of Con-
gressn,en, or donated as subsidies to the
rich ~corporators of the East!
7 Then said no.
"Well-we have done more in the
past five years to shorten the hours
of labor than ever before. We have
put the eight-hour fig over the ma
capital. We have won this
victory outside of party, and so we in
tend to keep out!'
Yes-and what-of it. The eight
hour flag floats over the capital to pro-
tect negroes and Congressman, but it
does not confire their stealing to eight
hours a day.
The eight hour flag does not float
over the poor farmer, the miner, the
the overtaxed laborer who
has been plunged by the Republican
party into the mire of taxation, and
who, in the past five years, have paid
over seventeen HUNDRED million of dollars
the treasury of your eight-hour
Washington, to enrich the bond
holders who rise at $50, loaftill $50,
and drink till 1910, at your expense!
The eight-hour flag does not float
over the poor farmers wife-the wife
of the mechanic. the widow of the
or the orphan of the working
man, Tor in eight hours a day they
earn enough to pay the taxes
on their tea, coffee, sugar, matches,
food wearing apparel, etc.-which
taxes the Republican party has placed
upon labor to support a Republican
aristocracy J!
Then said he: :