The Labor enquirer., 1886-04-17

they will probably succeed. Then Gould
cannot manipulate stock, for there will
be no stock, and no dividends. Salaries
will be IN degree, and eventually en-
tirely under the control of the people
Large sums of money will remain in the
hands of farmers who now pay high
rates on grain. All kinds of labor would
receive more of the monsy now paid to
railroads.
Why should we hold in contempt the
one important factor underlying this
great movement? i refer to the prin-
ciple of majority decision, aided by that
much abused object, che ballot | The
Chicago resolution, every measure, every
officer, or law, is chosen by the ballot.
When all the assemblies deliberate on
state railroads they will decide the mat
ter by the ballot. When it is to be prac-
tically realized, men must be chosen by
ballot to forward it. Then the whole
people will be called upon to decide
whether private ownership of railroads
shall cease or continue, and will use the
ballot.
The change from voting upon officers
of the order, to national affairs will be
almost imperceptible, the decisions OF
the X. of L. becoming more and more
important in their bearings on the
whole labor problem. The change will
not he such that the Knights will sud
denly drop the ballot at a certain stag 9
of proceedings, and take up muskets'
without first asserting their dem ,nds bV
ballot. The ballot has never been ap-
piled to industrial questions. The K. of
L. will try it.
While capitalists command the army,
we cannot please them in any way more
than to take up arms to solve the labor
problem. Labor must command the
army by capturing the political fort.
The civic power is superior to the mill
tary and is to be captured by the ballot.
This is the doctrine of Karl Marx and
it has not been refuted except bV pas
sionate assertions.
That capitalists never yield except by
force is getting to be stale piatltude'
refuted every week by numerous busl-
ness failures. Every business man
crushed by the competitive system is an
example of a capitalist yielding up his
property; excepting of course fraudu-
lent failures. They cannot use the forces
of the state nor any other force to retain
their wealth nor to recover 1t, nor do
they try. They succumb to circum-
stances.
When such body as the K. of L. be-
comes the civil power, they will adopt a
plan (such as governmental rallroads)
that will exclude the speculative capital
ist He will yield just as he would from
private competition. The army is con-
troled by his rival what can he do I
Perhaps gather few followers and be
crushed out by the conservative force OF
society.
Laborers, take your choice. Organize
outside of the state, and fight the state,
or organize as the state itself and rule
the earth. A less force than that re-
quired to conquer the military, will COM
mand it by the ballot. A writer to The
ENQUIRER lately gave us a refreshing
picture of the big struggle which would
end in the annihllation, in battle, of all
advocates of freedom and the final su-
premacy of despotism or else leave a
remnant of Socialists in charge OF
smoking world.
Choose between that picture and in
telligent political action. Shall we
fight the army or command it? If We
wish worthless glory that will live only
in the minds of few survivors, we will
fight and die. If we wish economic
freedom we will educate and agltate
until resistance TO us will be suicide to
capitalists, if they attempt it.
A martyred Socialists never yet made
a convert to Socialism by his example
If admire his action l must first be-
come Socialist bv reasoning, therefore
he only satisfies his feeling of devotion
by dying. But only the living can make
new Socialists. This detracts nothing
from the respect due to brave defenders
of barricades.
Agitation is bringing it's results, con-
verting capitalists, ministers, and
thinkers of all classes. The effects are
far less evident among the proletarlat'
Those who say: "Give us war;" will be
puzzled about whom they mad better At
tack. AS in the French Revolution
when heads begin to fall discrimination
soon ceases and friend and foe plot
against one another in fear and turmoil.
ZENo.