The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-07-18
THE KNIGHTS IN POLITICS.

THE KNIGHr3 IN POLITICS.
The Knights of Labor of Park City
At the last municipal election, went &c
the polls as a political organization
and cast their votes for the members Of
their order who had been previously
nominated for the various city Offices
The result was the election of the
Knights ticket. The action OF the order
was adversely commented upon by
some people who said that active par
ticipation in politics was not con-
templated in the society. The Liberals
or anti-Mormons held a primary con-
vention in Park City the other evening,
when the knights were in the MAORI y
and again had things their own way.
Again there is an undercurrent of un-
favorable comment, certain persons as
serting that the Knights have no right
20 use their organization as political
one. We MAJ confidently expect more
or less viii be said on the subject both
publicly and privately, before the cleo
ton and during the next year or two.
The HERALD knows little of the
true inBardness of the order of
Knights of Labor, though We assume
the organization to be similar TO the
labor unions in its aims and purposes.
only broader in its scope and opera
tons as its membership is larger and
embraces all classes of men who earn
their living by labor. There may be
something in the theory, rules or by
laws of The order which should keep it
out of politics, but we fail to under
stand why there should be any such
thing. Naturally the chief object or
purpose Of the organiza ion is to bene-
fit and protect its members; for this
purpOs, the men associate themselves
together, Pay dues and maintain an Or
ganization which enables them 10 re-
dress wrongs to individuals, help each
other in case of distress and so on. As
our politics is directly connected with
all our industries, and especially with
those industries with which the toilres
are most closely associated. the
Knights, it seems to us, would neces-
sarily be forced into politics, in
order to further the chief object OF
their order. That they have a right to
act as a political party no intelligent
man will deny; that is the right of all
in this country, and The HERALD is free
10 confess that the Knights of Labor are
wise in entering the field of politics
either as an independent party or in
with the par Y which prom
ses them most in the event Of success.
The laborer can i-s aided or oppressed
by legislation snd by the manner in
which the laws are executed; laws can
compel the employers to be fair and |
humane with employees, or they can
permit oppression and inIquities; and /
he execution of the laws may be made
O bear oppressively upon the toiler and
lightly upon the one who hires. or
{ may be made to bear evenly
lpoR all classes. having No favorites,
md knowing no difference between men.
Is our laws and their administration
ave SO much to do with the labor in
ustries, We not only fail to see why the
Knights Of Labor should not be active
D politics, but on the other hand, we
an see why the Knights should be
moDg our most energetic politicians.
ding all in their power legitimately 70
ave things their own way. If TIE
nights of Park City are in the ma
,rity it is their right, as well as their !
1ty to themselves to take control of ,
fairs, and there can be no honest oh ]
'ction to their doing this as an Or
anizatiOn instead Of as indiyiduais
eople claim that social, industrial or
-her society should not be EMPLOYED
aside its legitimate field of O. Grafton
1t these same people would, if they !,
,uld, induce a minister to herd his
0ck to the polls and vote il ali one :
ay. Besides, politics Is the legiti-
ate field of the Knights of Labor
be Knights are right in going INTO :
'iitics, but they may be wrong in their :
ethods and operations, and herein les
e danger . themselves and to the
immunity. There is ever a tendency
nong men to use new-found powe. ;.
wisely; to do things because they
n, without considering the effect; and :,
lst is worse and more dangerous. u :
ove by impulse and be led by dena :,
CUES. We hope the rark Knight ;,
10 have just ascertained that they
We strength, will be careful to use =,
wisely. They had much better 81
i've slowly han advance swiftly only a,
wreck themselves, And above all n