The Labor enquirer., 1884-05-03
of the Work of the Late Illi-
nois State Labor Con-
lid. Ver,tion.
Unfortunately 8 Careful Exami-
nation of tie Facts Will
ShOM
That the Wage-class, While Voters
(, in Form, Ire Not So in
Reality
Editor Labor Ennni1er.

"
the, Illinois state labor convention is
issued by the Chicago Groups of the
International Working Peoples Associ
alton, and is sent to THE LABOR EN-
QUIRER for publication: ~
A. R. PARSONS.
CHICAGO, April 27.-The; labor conven-
ton of the state of Illinois, which con-
vened IN the city of Chicago, March 26,
1884, was an important event in the de,
velopment of the labor movement. The
convention was representative body OF
the trades unions and the Knights Of
Labor. Their demands and the tactics
or methods adopted to secure them are
of great interest to every citizen of the
state and of the nation too (since what
ever affects the people of one state must
influence more or less all the rest), and
especially are their actions a matter OF
the deepest concern to the wage-class, in
whose behalf and in whose name thev
have been made.
We propose to briefly review in a
general wav the programme of this as
semblage of workingmen and point out
what to US appears manifestly wise or
foolish, to the end that if error has been
committed it may assist in avoiding
similar ones in the future.
Many resolutions and platform con-
tanning sixte an Rlanks, were adopted.
They we've allof an ameliatory character,
having in view the improvement of the
condition of the wage-class, and as it is
our purpose in this criticism to deal with
the plan of action adopted to obtain
these reforms it is unnecessary to publish
them in this connection. The conven-
ton decided that political action was
necessary for the purpose of obtaining
and enforcing the demands which they
put forth. This plan of action is based
upon the theory that every voter is
sovereign of the republic; that on cleo
ton day at the ballot-box the rich and
the poor, thewage-elass and the capital
istic class are upon level of equality
that the ballot of the propertyless is as
potential for enacting and executing
law as is that of the property-holdlng
classes This is what may be termed
the American theory of government;
theory which has always been preached
but alas a theory which the plain
facts prove has never been, and which 1t
is our purpose to show can never, under
the existing industrial system be put
into practice. The belief has always
prevailed among the people of these
United States that all men (proYlded
they were white) are created free and
equal and possessed of the "inaliensble
right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness" This theory of and belief
in the all-powerful sovereignty of the
ballot was evidently the faith also of the
men who composed the Illinois state
labor convention. Such being the case
it may appear to the gentlemen of this
convention as absurdity in the highest
degree for the question to be raised, viz
Is the American wage-worker sovereign
citizen of the republic-a voter? How
ever foolish such question may appear
to others, we, for our part, have learned
from experience, and the bitter logic Of
the capitalistic system of industry the
disagreeable and startling fact that the
ballot of the wage-worker cannot be
made an instrument to remove his pow
ertv! If the workingman is voter II
the sense that he has the power as such
to amend, or repeal, or enact and enforce
any law which he may consider necessary
to his welfare, then the Illinois state
labor convention tas acted wisely in re
sorting to political action as the propel
method for securing economic reforms
But unfortunately a careful examination
of the facts and the surroundings of th'
vage-class will clearly show that whil'
thev are voters in form they are not 81
in fact. The economically dependen
cannot, FROM the very nature of thel
environments be politically free!
So long, to be sure, as questions OF
capitalistic nature (such as have Away
engaged the attention of the dominan
political parties Of this country were u
for discussion and settlement, the wage
worker has been allowed the undispute
right to choose between them. Neve
in anY of tie political conflicts of tn
past has the right of private property 7
control to action of the propertyless bee
called in question by the wage-Worke
and not until this right of private prof.
erty has been assailed at the ballot-bo
will it enter the arena of politics to sho'
and prove 10 the worker that he is not
voter. This labor convention has throw
down the gauntlet to capital. Observer
men can fooetel the result Some {
the delegates to this convention will n
doubt scornfully denounce as bas
slander the insinuation that they hav
in any way sought to interfere with tn
rights of private property" declarin
their utter 1etestation of any such se