The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-09-10
LABoR's NEW DEPARTURE.

LADOr only lmperieclly ofsanlzeuy anu
struggling without we'll defined purpo
SOS, has OF late years besn most gener-
ally worstod in Its contest With cepi-
tai. 1t has attempted to do what mere
physical strength will not acccm-
plish, unaided by law or wealth, TO
force favorable terms from organized
capital protected by charter and COM
mon law. Tho iavorite method OF at
teck has been through strikes. Tbeso
have failed through want of means
often and often through want of public
sympathy. 1t has never heretofore
seemed to occur TO labor that there
was another and better way of accom-
plishing reforms than by force. Iudis-
Greet snd often hypocritical and sell
fish leaders have advised illegal
and unwiso courses, until
tho condition OF the working
man has grown more critical and
helpless year by year. Eighty per
cent. OF the strikes have been failures
and every failure only riyeted the
chaius upon labor the tighter.
1t seems to have been ignored here
tolore that this il an elective govern
ment; that the ballot is in the hand
Of every citizen, however poor and
humble, and that tho working people
are numerically the strongest class in
tho United States. 1t is within their
power to elect every legislator, State
or national, from the Atlantic to this
Pacific ocean, and absolutely dictate
national and State codes. Now, these
codes are the bulwarks OF organized
capital. The general statutes
aud their charter rights give
Thorn their powers and their
protection. Undoubtedly many
of these laws and privileges do not suf.
ticiently guard the interests of labor,
and common justice would suggest re-
forms. how arc these reforms TO be
secured? Not by force and violence,
manirestly, for such course Is war
upon tho law and tho peace as well as
tho employers. The ballot must do the
work, and if exercised properly viii
do IL effectually. Reforms must be ac-
oomplished inside tho law,and the bal
lot alone is the instrument.
1t is gratifying to SEQ that nc last
labor is beginning to tako this view
of the subject and is organizing, not
for temporary and violent methods of
relief, but to make its merited impress
upon the general and special legisls.
ton OF the land, The resolution
adopted by tho great trades demonstra-
ton in Chicago ON Monday last, if
lived up to, marks new departure
and nore prosperous era for labor, ana
Is worthy OF careful perusal by every
workingman in tho country. Among
other things they declare that
"rhey prefer the ballot TO tho bullet,
reason to ruilianism, unitod and INTEL
ligent action to meaningless violence
W bhO bSot W 10
move the evils of which they COM
plain. The means that may DO justi-
iia0lo in tho despotism OF tho OIL
world arc unwarranted and out OF
place In free republic where tho
franchise Is the inallenable right
Of every American citizen, irrespective
OF color and nationality, and they arc
unwilling to aid in the destruction OF
tho institutions OF our country, tho
hope of tho oppressed OF every cline,
which their valor and patriotism havo
secured"
This Is wisdom and patriotism.
Thoroughly organized and guided by
such uttorancss and policy, labor
troubles will cease, but labor win he.
como strong aud commanding as u po-
liticsl and social force aud achieve
more reforms and greater relief in g
decade than 1t has ever yet accom-
plished in half century.