The Labor enquirer., 1883-09-29
DaVitt D. Chidister Discusses
the Subject Intelligently
and Holds
The Divine Right Of Every Labor.
er to the Results Of His
Id, r/ Toll. -..s-.-.-7,y.
Through the Ballot the Working
man. Can Get What is His
u. Right. 10

+ 1t is sometimes said-by honest men
sometimes, but more frequently by de-
signing politicians-"Oh, YOU mustn't
allow your trades union Of labor
organi cations to become mixed up in
politics OF take any political action"
Now, I assert that the only permanent
good, aside from the benevolent fea-->
lures, which are usually part of trades !
unions), resulting from trade and labor
organizations, is the advance they may
make in knowledge of the science of
government.
Let the workes learn from the exam
Pile set by the non-producing classes. 1t
is by and through legislation that the
drones of society are enabled to rob Ia
Dor of the greater part of the wealth it
produces. 1t is by class legislation, by
unjust laws that all these gigantic rail
road, telegraph, and greatest of all,
money monopolies, have been created
and built up. And if the producers of
wealth expect to gain and successfully
sustain their rights: "The divine right
of every Ilaborer to the results of his
TOLL" thev must meet the enemy on their
own ground and with their own weap-
ons. Unless they do they will fail
through all time.
Let me cite an instance of the manner
in which these monopolies secure favor
able and defeat adverse legislation.
In the fall of 1881, the National Bank
ers' association met in Saratoga and ac-
cording to the New York Tribune,
(Which should know, being an organ of
the same association, the only business
transacted, outside of routine and the
reading of few essays, papers, etc, and
attending grand banquet and ball, was
the appointment of committee to Sc
cure favorable legislation in the inter
ests of the banking system. This COM
mittee sat with closed doors, and the re-
suit of their efforts was seen in that
clause of the tax and tariff law passed
less than year ago, taking the tax off
the deposits and capital of banks.
amounting ng to between twelve and four
teen millions of dollars III 'a'.'
These classes know no such thing as
party; but they see to it that every can
didate of either party, that has q chance
to win is pledged to work for and vote
for their interests, unless he is banker
or lawyer, in which case, his interests
being identical with theirs, no formal
pledge is needed. :, "
When say it is by political action
that the industrial classes must secure
the objects they are striving for, do not
mean working for and electing some
petty local politician, nor the elevation
of some ambitious but unscrupulous
would-be-statesman to place and power.
l mean that they must place in nomina-
ton some honest man, whose interests
are identical with their own, and who is
pledged to the advocating and adoption
of certain measures and principles.
Hold him to strict accountability for
his course while serving the people. If
he betrays his trust, visit the penalty of
social ostracism upon him. .....
l have but little sympathy with the
man who goes to the polls and at tie
bidding of some political party votes for
a candidate whose interests are directly
opposed to those of the workers. c.