The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-05-31
WISE WORKINGMEN.

| has done wisely. 1t has concluded that
it will not put ticket IN the field next
fall, but will work and vote for the
Democratic ticket.
| The workingmen-or good many OF
them-6nd fault with the laws, with
courts, with the administration
and things generally. They attribute all
the ills which affilct them to wrong
doing and corruption in politics, and
assume that by changing parties they
can cure the evils. Undoubtedly
the laboring element is oppressed
by unjust laws and partial ad-
ministration; the politicians rule and a
man of money and influence is of more
consequence to them than the poor
fellow who digs and delyes and earns
his little bread by big drops of sweat.
But the working men go about it to
help themselves in the wrong way,
when they organize distinctive politi-
Cal parties and set out to overthrow the
old parties. If the Democrats and Re
publicans were both dethroned, and
the so-called workingmen's party
were to come into power, does anybody
imagine things would be better than
they are? Does not erybodg know
that matters would be a good deal
worse2 Whenever and wherever the
labor organizations, by combinations
o. nd nfr 60
they have either abused it or developed
a woeful incapacity, and IN either case,
instead of curing the evil they have in
creased and made it worse. San Fran
cisco never had more incompetent
government than that which the
workingmen foisted upon it a few years
ago. The honest, intelligent laboring
men of that city could not be induced
to again place the city under the con.
troll of the workingmen politicians. The
experience of other communities has
been similar to that o. the Pacific me-
tropolis. Let US suppose that New |
York, Chicago, st. Louis or any of the
big cities were to fall into tie hands of |
such men as usually get the working
mems nominations-how long would it |
be before the mismanagement if not |
the fragrant abuse of power would |
cause the laboring people themselves to |
sigh for the return of competency,
even if it were to be accompanied by |
corruption. 1t is not because the |
laborers, as class, are dishonest, for
they are honest; it is not because they
they would not try to do right, for they
would endeaVor 10 be upright in every
thing. 1t is because they lack the ex-
perieuce, the training, the executive
ability, and In too many cases the
aptitude for the work. Denis
Kearney was not corrupt man
when be was leader of the laboring ele-
ment in San Francisco and was vlrtua
master of the city; but he was an
gnorant boor who would have wrought
more mischief as mayor of that city,
With officials OF his own selection
around him, than could have been
overcome and nullifed in quarter OF
/ century.
What the workingmen should do is
20 labor within the parties, not
IN the outside. The laboring
nen are the voters. They can
.lect or defeat at will. Their
light should be in the nominating con.
'entions and at the polls, and they
ought not to permit their ambition or
heir bad judgment to lead them into
Wasting their strength, and destroying
heir effectiveness. By demanding that
Democrats and Republicans shall
nominate only good men, and defeating
lad nominations, the workingmen can
lave things their own way; but by
lerding among themselves they will
ither help the enemy which they fight
n will bring defeat by their own sue
ess.
In Illinois the United Labor party
lands about as good chance of elect
ng nominees of its own, as it does of
topping the overflow of the Missis-
ippi; but if the lsboring men will unite
Dr. the election of the Democratic !
icket, they may succeed, in which
vent they will do more towards curing
he evils of corrupt government than if
hey were to put their own candidates
nto Office.
las rule, the workingman's party is
be real enemy to the working man.