The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-08-25
A DISTINCTIVE LABOR PARTY.


A 'labor convention is called to as
semble in Philadelphia onsthe 2Sth inst.
for what purpose cannot be definitely
! ascertained. Some of the leaders in the
movement declare that the convention
will nominate State ticket others as
sert that it has no political object ex-
cent to take action in regard to the
election of members of the Legislature
pledged to the interests of the working
people while others again are of the
opinion that the convention will endorse
Armstrong, the Greekback candidate
for Governor, and recommend the Green
back candidates for Congress and the
Legislature.
The complaint of the laboring classes
is that that their rights and interests
are not properly protected by law, and
that on the contrary the laws discTimi-
nate them as a class. They are especial
ly anxious to repeal the act of Assembly
which subjects strikers to prosecution
for conspiracy, and to secure such legis-
latiOn as will enable labor unions to or
ganize in a corporate capacity. Doubt
less the mass of those who are enlisted
in the movement are men of sincere
and earnest purpose, but it is equally
true that there are among them design
ing and self-seeking persons, who hope
to use the labor organizations to their
own advantage and who will not hesi-
tate to betTay the interests of the work
ingmen if by SO doing they can fill their
pockets or obtain political power This
later class naturally favors the organi-
zatiOn of "labOr party'' and the nom-
ination of labor candidates, or, what
would be the same thing, the endorse
ment of the Greenback nominations. If
they can carry their point they will be
in a position to trade and huckster in
the political market to their hearts
content.
The fact is that the concentration of
the labor vote of Pennsylvania upon a
distinctive labor ticket, either that head
ed by the Creenbacker Armstrong. or
another to be nominated by the cenven-
tiOn on the 2Sth, is now the only hope of
Cameron in his desperate and losing
fight for continued supremacy in the po-
litics of the State. 1t is indeed only a
faint hope, but the boss and his assist
ant bosses nevertheless cling to it with
great tenacity. 1t is therefore for the
wOrkingmen Of Pennsylvania to deter
mine whether their power at the ballot
boxes shall be perverted to the base uses
of the Cameron machine or exerted for
the liberation of the commonwealth from
the political domination which has bro't
them all their woes. For the laws of
which they complain were framed by
Republican Legislatures. They have ap-
pealed in vain to the Republican party
for the relief and protection they seek.
Their petition for law protecting them
against the store order system was We
tOed by Republican Governor. Their
efforts for a repeal Of the conspiracy act
HaFaaI,I -, l..
in the Legislature. Their eight hour
law, thrown as a sop for their amuse-
ment. has been a dead letter ON the sta
tute book during all Republican admin
istratiOn. On the other hand, when
Democracy was in power. practical
measures for the relief of the working
men were enacted. The first homestead
| Dill was a Democratic measure. The
mechanics lien law came from Demo-
| cratic hands. The law abOlishing i'm
prisOnment for debt was of Democratic
authorship. The $500 exemption law
was passed by a Democratic Legislature
for the benefit of laOor, and the "anti.
store order'' bill was drawn. presented
and pushed to passage by Democratic
! legislators. But the Democratic party
| has not been in full possession of the
! powers of the government in State OF
| Republic since 1860. 1t is therefore not
/ able to legislate according to its own
will and must be judged by its record
/ when in power. That record proves il
/ to have been the true friend of the work
| ingmen proves that it always heard
/ their complaints and righted the wrong.
/ Of the honest tOiler. 1t could not have
/ done otherwise it cannot do otherwise
now. Its voting strength is largely
| drawn from the laboring class to-day, a
1t was twenty and thirty years ago. 1
is the party of the plain, common people
the antagonist of aristOcratic govern
meut the concrete expression of the feel
ings, thoughts and aspirat .ons of the In
. dustrial element which is and must re
main the hope and stay of free institu
tions.-Hdrrjsb1Tg Patriot.