New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-08-19
TOREINGMLN IN POLITICS.

The vorkingmcn are not well advised II, at
their first essay as a body in politics. they pro-
pose to ask the repeal of laws under which boy
cotting is now held Illegal. They could do no
other thing which would so completely unite
against them all unorganzed workers and all
other opposing interests. If they should raise
that issue they would force upon the people a
direct choice between legislation at the dicta-
ton of minority and for the interests of a
minority, and legislation for the good of the
majority and subject to its will. The tendency
of such demand would be 10 unite all the rest
Of the people against the trades unions and
Knights of Labor-ninctecn- twenhcihs OF the
voters against onc-twentcth. That would be
the worst possible policy if the workers arc go
ing into politics at all to begin by making a.
many foes possible.
Just here is the root of the difficulty which
mcvcnts organized labor from obtaining con-
trolling influence in political affairs The right
of any body of workers TO separate political
action is undcncd and undeniahle. On many
accounts. it would be good thing for The conn
tIv if the workers would attempt such separate
political action. Certainly it would educate
wo,kingmen thcm.elves TO a better appTcca
hitherto taken but little into est They would
find that Other voters have deep interest Ill
such questions and would them elves be obliged
to consider thcm and declare their purpose with
regard to thcm They would I've compelled
to determine tlcir position, and to pledge
their candidates. and to unite their forces, on
questions which they have been hitherto in
chncd to ignore They would find this hard
matter, and disagreement between Republican
and Democratic workers, between hard-moncy
and soft-moncy. or Prohibition and anli-Pio-
hibition workers, would BE- likely 20 divide and
defeat them at the outset. In shOit they would
lean that the great parties Of this country
represent tie earnest purposes and deep con
vic.ions of a great majority Of the people, on
some questions which cannot be ignored or dis
regarded.
But the workers would also lean that thc
great majority OF wage earncrs have no POM
of sympathy or common purpose with the small
number who arrogatc to thcm-clves the name
of organized labor" and claim to act on be-
half OF all the laboling people. The claim Is
not true. and yet many persuade themselves,
by listening only to each other and thinking Of
all questions from their own limited point o.
view, that what they want is the one thing
which all labor really wants. They arc MI
taken in suppoSing that other workers are
more ignorant or more indifferent In regard 10
,hcr interests than themselves. They alc mis-
taken in suppo.lng that The surrender of part
of their freedom to Organizations which has
seemed to them The best way to promote their
interests, is an acceptable mode to other work
ems also, or can be with good result employed
by many. Ninc-tcnths OF The workers in this
country want only frccdom-protcction in the
rights which they have in common with all
citizens. If organized labor goc. into politics,
it will not Only discover that this is the real
desire of a great majority Of the laborcrs of
the country, but it viii discover that the at
icmpt to make some special interest Of labor as
such predominant in political action, to the
disregard of questions upon which the condl
ton OF all labor depends, is unwsc, and doe,
not meet the approval of any considerable
proportion OF the workers themselves.