The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-04

The President OF the National Labor Union
party, it appears, has issued call for
political convention of the representatives. of
the Union, to be held at Columbus, Ohio, on
Wednesday, the 18th of October next, to
President for the national election of 1872.
The labor union party, therefore, 1t is pro-
posed, shall be the first in the field for the
Presidential succession. As to the elements
Of which this labor union party is composed, its
extent Its strength and its designs, we are not
very clearly informed We presume that 1t en-
braces the labor reform party Of Massachu-
sets, New Hampshire and some other States
that its members are mostly members Of the
Trade Unions of the country; that some, if
not all, of them belong to the International,
that political organization of workmen which
throughout Europe hangs like a lowering
thunder cloud over kings and dynasties; and
we dare say that, in somewhat diluted form,
the political platform of this labor union
party is that Of the International-the supre-
macy of labor over capital.
The Trade Unions of this country, excepting
the Southern cities in which they exist, are
limited pretty much to the north side of the
line, embracing Mason and Dixon's line and
the Ohio river, which, in the good old times
when African slavery was ga divine insti-
tuition" and cotton was king divided the free
States from the slave States. Even in the
North these Trade Unions, it may be said, are
confined to our cities and large towns, and are
made up of men engaged in mechanical pur-
suits. Their aggregate membership at this
time is probably not less than three hundred
and fifty thousand men, nearly all voters. We
understand, however, that the Trade Unions
have nothing to do with party politics, and
that at present it is their intention still to keep
aloof from party politics and still to leave their
members, each for himself to choose their
political party associations. This labor union,
or labor reform political party is, then, an
independent organization-a new political
movement striking in between our two great
political parties for the overwhelming political
power held by the laboring classes of the coun-
try, white and black.
The only State, so far, in which this labor
union or reform party has secured something
like balance Of power between the two old
parties is New Hampshire; but that State is
so closely divided that few thousand votes
carried off from the republicans by third
party are sufficient to capsize the
Commonwealth, as it was capsized in
the election of last spring. In Massa-
chusetts, however, Wendell Phillips having
taken in hand the agitation of labor reform
in connection with women's rights, and Cen
eral Butler having entered the field for Gov
ernor for the rights of labor, the rights of
women and the rights of Old Ireland, we may
perhaps have terrible shaking among the
old dry bones of party politics in this coming
fall campaign. In New York the labor
reformers have not as yet disclosed any very
alarming strength, their full poll as disturb
ing faction in our last State election being less
than four thousand votes; but it must not be
forgotten that the original aut.-slavery leaders
| in this country commenced their agitation
with following which could be crowded into
an omnibus, and that for some years, wherever
| they showed their heads in the agitation of
the horrors Of negro slavery, even in Puritani-
| Cdl OOSyOu, tuCL uhu0St ACCcplAOuS WcIc
| fusillades of rotten eggs.
| This labor union party has no such general
popular Indignation to confront in entering
the field Of party politics. On the other
hand, it counts upon the support of the Inter-
| national and the accession Of the Trade
Unions in moving for the next Presidency.
Nor is there any telling the extent to which
| the independent action of these elements as
| third party may disturb and upset the calcula-
| lions of our shrewdest republican and demo-
cratic political managers even in 1872. Some
six months ago Governor Geary, of Pennsyl-
vana, was openly in the field as the Presi-
Dental candidate of this labor reform party,
and was actively instrumental, We believe, In
the preparation of series of pamphlets and
| circulars from Harrisburg, explaining the
principles and purposes Of this new party, and
| advocating its cause against both the demo-
cratic and republican parties. We believe,
however, that within the last three months
| Governor Geary has signifed bis adhesion to
| General Grant and his administration, so that
this Labor Union National Convention of
| October next will probably have to look else
where for its Presidential champion and stand
| ard bearer.
| We shall not. then, be surprised If this labor
union party at Columbus sets up General
Butler as it's candidate. If so, we doubt not
that the General will accept the nomiua-
ton, and will hold TO II until the Republican
National Convention shall have selected its
candidate for Vice President. Then the
course Of the General will be governed by the
circumslan of the situation. Finally, we
suspect that this Labor Union Party Conven-
ton, called so very early 70 nominate Presi-
DENTAL ticket, Is movement indicating the
readiness Of the leaders concerned to sell out
to the highest bidder. But nous rerrons. We
| shall see.