Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-10
Movements to Use the Ballet for
Special Purposes

Special Purposes
There are indications cropping cut all
the time Of purpose on the part Of diff
ferent glasses 10 use the ballot t0a greater
extent than ever before for the purpose Of
advancing their respective IHterestA. The
difficulty in making a living On account of
the prevailing depression in all kinds Of
business is so great that the belief is
gaining ground that there is something
wrong with the laws. The wage worker
believes that those who make the laws
| dlsoriminate in favor OF capitalists, and
! the farmers feel that justice is not done to
their interests.
In our dispatches yesterday there was
an announcement that the Knights of
Labor at Decatur, ILL.,, had taken steps TO
form new political party which they
proposed to call the "United Labor Party
of America" The purpose Of this new
party is to put into Office, and into the
halls or legislation, only those who will
pledge themselves to stand by the
industrial masses in their conflict
with capital. 1t may be that this
new organization Will amount to
nothing. II may not be heard OF after it
has held a convention or two. 1t is not
certain, however, that it viii not play a
part in the politics OF the country. The
labor organizations are much stronger
now than they were year ago, and are
handled with greater ability and judg-
ment. The strikes within few months
have, in many instances, been upon a
very large scale, and they have been geR-
orally successful. The great strike of the
car drivers and conductors in New York
and Brooklyn last week surprised the
country by the skill with which it was
conducted and results achieved. Success
in strikes may encourage the wage work.
ers to try their power in an organized
form at the ballOt-box.
At the time that the Decatur Knights
Of Labor were forming their political
party the farmers OF South Carolina were
laying the foundation of an organization
to exert a greater influence in the pOllt-
ical affairs of that State. A petition was
published yesterday, signed by 81 persons,
nearly all practical farmers, calling for
convention to meet at the State capital on
April 30 to consider the course the farm
ers Of the State ought to pursue to secure
legislation that win tend to promote their
interests.
The petitioners complain that, although
largely In the majority in the State, they
are treated with comparatively little con-
sideratioH by the law-making power, and
that their interests are sacrificed for the
benefit of others. They specify some par
ticulars in which there is, they allege,
marked discrimination against them.
They propose to use the ballot to get what
they deem to be their rights. AS the ma
jority must rule in this country, no fault
can be found with the South Carolina
farmers for resorting to the ballot for pro-
lection.
The thought cannot be avoided, how
ever, that if the wage workers, the far
mers, the capitalists, ETC., all seek to
promote their respective interests by
means of the ballot the situation is not
likely to be very much different from what
1t is at present. One interest may get the
upper hand in one locality and another in
another locality, but generally they will
balance each other about as they do now.
1t is extremely doubtful if it would be
possible to hold any class together
for any considerable time, if the
sole purpose were the promotion of its
material interests; and, besides, if one
class should meet with partial success
other classes would follow It's exam, lie,
and conflicting interests would make it
impossible for any particular class to Sc
cure permanently the advantage which it
sought.
1t may be that in the next year or two
many movements similar to those of the
Knights OF Labor at Decatur, and the
farmers Of South Carolina will be wit
messed, but it is extremely improbable
that any Of them will reach an over
shadOwing Importance or gain such
strength as to exercise potent influence
in political affairs. Labor organizations
although they may achieve greater sue
cesses than any that have yet crowned
their efforts, need not hope to accomplish
much in the field OF politics Independent
Of the great political parties.