Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-06-15
A LABOR ORGANIZATION IN POL
TTIcs.

In spite of the protests of strong minor
ity Of Democrats, the representatives of
the Amslgamated Association Of Iron and
Steel Workers, moet of the members of
which are engaged in the hard steel indus
try of Pennsylvania, have adopted a set of
the most bitterly partisan resolutions de-
nounoipg the MILLS bill from end to end.
The fact that this organization is largely
composed of Republicans is no reason why
it should be made q Republican campaign
club. The organization was formed to re-
sist the encroachments of capital upon the
rights Of labor, and for no other purpose.
When it oversteps these bounds and at
tempts to use its power for partisan polit-
icsl purposes it enters deep and dangerous
water.
Among labor organizations the Anal
gsmated Association stands alone in its de-
nuncistion of the MILLS bill. Other Is
boring men recognize the fact that that
measure is in their interest, removing be-
tween SO, OOO, 900 and $50, OOO, 900 of the
taxes taken from the pockets Of the people
yearly in direct taxes and thrice as much
more indirectly.
We do not dispute the right Of any Or
ganizstien to criticise legislation affecting
it. Such criticism, if calmly given in no
partisan spirit, would aid much in deter
mining the character of such measures.
If the Amalgamated Association had
confined itself to pointing out where the
MILLS bill deals uDjustly with the steel
rail industry, no one could complain, the
Democrats in the organization would not
have opposed the resolutions, and the reso-
lutions would have much effect. But
when this association adopts Republican
stump speech asking nothing, advising
nothing, but the defeat of the Democrats,
it is plain that Republican tariff league
politicians have gotten control of the order
and are working its machinery for purely
political purposes. This is wrong and
| dangerous to the association. No labor or
ganizAtion has ever entered politics with
ont disastrous results to itself, and the
Amalgamsted Association will be no ex-
ception to the rule. Of course, the monop-
olists care not snap Of the finger what be-
comes OF it Indeed, they have repeatedly
endeavored to disrupt the order, which is
now doing its best to disrupt itself while
working in the interest of its worst enemy
monopoly.
When we read those absurd resolutions
! announcing the MILLS bill in its entirety,
which measure is acknowledged by honest
Republicans, even in Pennsylvania, to have
many good points, when we read their
unfair criticisms and partisan misstate-
ments, we do not have to go beyond the
Pennsylvania monopolists themselves to
And the inspiration.
The members of the Amaigamated As
ISOLATION in this section who are not bewil-
dered by partisan cries, know the good eff
| feet the MILLS bill will have on the soft
steel industry, which it proposes to relieve
of portion of the crushing burden it
now labcrs under in consequence of I'M
| lust discrimination in favor of the hard steel
monopoly in our present Ubiquitous high
tariff system.
The attitude which the Republican ma
| jority has forced the Amalgamated Asso-
citation to assume is anomalous and pitiful.
Is it not strange to see an organization
of working men opposing a measure framed
in the interest of the masses, which pro.
poses to relieve the millions of American
toilers from portion of the heavy burden
of taxation levied on their necessaries of
| life?