Workmen's advocate., 1890-10-25
THE POLITICAL CLASS STRUG-
 GLE.


 labor by independent political organiza- tion. But in view of the approach ing elections some further remarks on this subject are timely.
 The necessity of economic organiza tion has become to be quite generally recognized by the wage workers. And no person who is in possession of his senses would suggest that in their eco homie action the workers would do best to follow the lead of the very capi- talists against whom that action is di- rected.
 In the economic field it is generally understood that the wage-working class must organize and act independently. That this is not widely recognized in regard to poll action is because in the political field the antagonism of in- terests between the two classes, the capitalists and the workers, is not as ap- parent as in the economic field.
 In politics the capitalists do not show their hand as openly as in industrial affairs. It is in their interest not to do so, because in order to control the gov ernment they need the sutfrages of the very people whom they rob and oppress. If they would openly come before the people as capitalist party proclaiming their sole motive in politics to be Gas it is) to secure the passage of laws dangerous to these interests, the people would make short work of them.
 To accomplish their purpose, the capitalists use the professional politic- ans, who pose before the people as the representatives of all classes. As mat ter of fact the politicians are nothing but the tools of the capitalist class, doing its bidding in halls of legislatures, in the executive offices and in the Courts.
 As legislators the politicians of the old parties grant to the capitalists valuable public franchises, large areas of the pub. lie domain, direct and indirect subsidies out of the national funds, pass con- spiracy laws to prevent the organization of the workers, make appropriations for armories, increased police forces and militia to be employed for the intimida tion of the workers when they demand better conditions of work and of life. As legislators they suppress all bills calcu lated to restrict capital in the absolute liberty of fieecing the men, the women and the children of labor; they suppress bills preventing the employment by capital of private armies of armed ban. dits. bills for the protection of the life and limb of the workers, bills to prevent the exploitation of children and to secure to them school education.
 AS executive officers the politicians of both parties place the police force and the militia at the disposal of the capital ists to terrorize poor starving strikers, imprison peaceful men and women who dare to exercise their constitutional rights for the enforcement of their modest demands against capital, sup, press and disperse orderly and lawful assemblages convened to discuss labor's grievances against capital. AS executive officers they disregard the laws that are in the interest of the people, permit the Pinkerton thugs to perpetrate the most fragrant brooches of law, permit the un- lawful employment of children, permit the violation of the factory laws, permit the unlawful use of dangerous machin- cry, unheathful workshops and poison ous material, permit the erection of un- safe buildings, bridges and other struc- lures, permit the wholesale numbering and maiming of human beings through the reckless greed of capitalists. As executive officers they refuse to enforce the compulsory education law, neglect to provide school accommodation and allow the children to grow up in gno- rance so that they be more willing ob- jects of caritalistic exploitation.
 As judicial officers the politicians of both parties most rigidly enforce the laws that are directed against labor, while the capitalists enjoy immunity in their frequent violations of law. Strikers and boy cotters are sentenced to long terms of imprisonment, while capltalis- tic trust makers, blacklisters and mur- derers are unmolested. Tickets, whose only crime is that they persuade mis- guided worklngmen not to become trai- tors to their brothers, are clubbed and thrown in jail, while Pnkerton thugs, who have murdered citizens for pay, go scot-fre.
 This is a part of the long record of services which the old parties have ren- dered and are ever ready to render to the capitalist class. In their subserviency to capitals wishes the politicians of both parties. though divided into two ma chine organizations, are ona. They are divided, not by questions of public inn portance, but by quarrels about the opols and by the antagonism that exists between various portions of the capital ist class. But these differences are inn madiataly fnrmnttan whom Ina claSr