Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1886-08-15
IS 1T TIME NOW !
GEORGE MANSFIELD SAYS
THE TIME HAS COME,
Intelligence Not Wanting For indie.
pendent Politics Lack OF Moral
Stamina the Cause Of Hest.
tatiOu -One. Half the
Offices Ours.
To the UIorhmcn's Adr0cdtP:


The time has arrived and the
question is up for debate whether
the Assemblies of the Knight Of
Labor of this Congressional District
would be justified in taking a hand
in the ensuing Fall elections. If
we could poll q vote which would be
full representation Of our strength.
then most decidedly, no wiser cousr
could be pursued.
| know it is urged that we are not
ready, not prepared, not "cducated
up" to that fine point necessary to
an intelligent understanding Of the
abstract problems Of social, indus
trial and political economy. Any
numbskull, it appears, may have i'll
telligence enough and virtue enough
to vote for a corrupt 'dcmocratlc"
Or "republcan' politician. But
when it comes to voting ON matters
vitally affecting OM' intercsts-the
social status and welfare of ourselves
and families: rules and regulations
10y which we shall be governed in
our trades; the price that shall be
paid us as wages for our labor; the
restrictions necessary to be put on
the power of upstart officials
''clothed in a little brief authority
why, then, before that consnmma-
ton can be reached | suppose we
will have to pass u civil service OK
animation where corrupt judges,
tyrannical bosses and political hcnch-
men shall constitute the examining
board.
When man knows enough to be
convinced that social inequality and
industrial slavery are results of class
legislation--that is, that they come
from unjust discrimination against
working people as u class, and in
favor of the rich and their vested in
terests as being entitled to exception
al protection, why, then he knows
all that is necessary to be known for
the intelligent casting of his ballot,
and if he is true to himself, true to
his honest convictions, he will cast
it right every time.
All, sir, it is not a want of knowI
edge that calls for delay of political
action IN redresslng the wrongs and
outragestof which We complain, but
lack of moral stamina, IA deficiency
in moral courage to withdraw the
allegiencn which We have given to
the two old corrupt political parties
and who as rewards for our fidelity
have betrayed the trusts committed
to their care and abandoned lis to
social ruin and industrial despair.
No matter whether we can elect our
candidate or not, we can poll votes
enough to show them that we can
knock out the candidate of either of
the old corrupt political parties
every time. And that is the only
way III which we can command their
respect or bring them to a sense of
the responsibility which they owe to
the people.
With not one-third of the voting
strength which the Knights Of Labor
have in New Haven to-day. the
labor party Of this city and town a
few years ago cast seventeen hundred
votes for their legislative candidates.
To-day. if we were true to ourselves,
we could capture one-half Of the
offices of the city and town govern
ment.
The spies and traitors who nave
wriggled themselves into our Assem-
blies for the purpose of check-mat-
ing Independent political action at
the dictation of their political bosses