The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-12-11
Topics Discussed Over The River

keep your eye on the movement and
you will see that IL will all end in mist" a
friend said to me the other day in speaking
of the gigantic proportions " hfch the labor
element had reached as a factor in our pol
itics. True, we sometimes grow enthusi-
astic on the labor problems, aud attempt in
our own humble way to twist and plan a
scheme of our own by which the labUIng
masses can ia n measure resist the undue,
heavy aud Onerous expressions imposed
upon them by a number of corporations,
orly to become more mixed up and con-
founded than ever before. We remember
saying in former letter that the Knights
of Labor gong into politics, would have a
tendency to make that organization become
more or less of a political body, leaving it,
open to the usual dissentions which cause
descriptions in political parties. We have
no reason for wishing to change the asser
tion at this day either if anything, we
might repeat il with more force and energy
now than ever before. We are firmly i'm
pressed with the object the Knights of La
bor have in view, and If we did not sym
pathize with them we would not be human.
The laboring masses owe to themselves Il
duty. enc which must he profoundly im-
pressed upon the minds of members of the
organization, as "etclnal vigilance is the
price of liberty" so is fidelity to the amel-
ioration OF the laboring masses the only
means OF securing recognition and eleva-
ton. hypocrite here and there amongst
the members of the order can work more
harm in a single day than mOnshs of hard
work can repair, for when once a traitor to
the cause is found each one will look upon
the other with suspicion, and as a result
the freedom and openness of discussion
Will he luore or less restricted, there will be
linldiiy on the part of all, in fact, and
every act will be looked upon with suspic-
ion bordering on TO fear. And for this
reason alone we are tempted to say that the
political movement which has taken pos
session of the Knights of Labor will even
tually Prove to be its diversion. We have
said that they are factor in politics to day,
and that The extent Of their power is be-
yond the comprehension of the abiest poll
lician. we repeat 1t again and with more
force and earnestncSs than we have here
tofure done. Fair.mndcd. honest and con
scieptious members of the organization
will coincide with Us, when we say that
Knights of Labor have not been true to
their own Interests in the past-the result
oi the late election logically proves this.
We will not say that Chaunccy Black IS
more honest, capable and worthy to be
Governor than James A. Beaver, or that
any of the Democratic candidates were
better fitted to fill the positions to which
they aspired than are the successful Re-
pnbIicanS, But we do say that something
must certainly be ''rottcn in Denmark
when an organization endorses a man, PIE
SentS his name to a convention. and aimos:
demands his nomination. only 10 slaughter
him at the polls. II is not too late to con-
slider these questions. The election is long
since over, aud everybody is now satisfied
with the order Of things, and it is while in
this condition that such questions as con-
cern the welfare of people should be con-
sdered. 1t is bur natural under the exist
ing order of things for Democrats TO claim
that the knights of Labor have been man
iPuated by Republican machmery--and
there is considerable room to substantiate
this suspicion, no doubt, or in many in
stances it would not be so boldly pro-
claimed. If this be true. and we feel
tempted to believe that it is, then the labor
movement has had a set back which will
require years to remedy. People generally
cannot put faith in an organization that is
open to machine manipulation, and the or
der makes enemies where it should make
| friends. True. the order has made them
selves felt in politics, and they will continue
to play in the uncertain game until they
get caught out on a foul. You vii! not he.
lieve us when we say that the time for the
dissolution of the Knights of Labor is
marked. We are sorry for it. for We had
dreamed grand and noble dreams OF what
was to have been accomplished by the uni
~ of the lah0ring classes. We are not too
premature in our prophecy, for the refusal
of the Knights in the Western States to
pay an assessment is keynote to the re-
suit we have predicted. But what are we
going to do about il?