Workmen's advocate., 1890-05-24

County Democracy as between any of them and the leaders of Tammany; so that no concert of action between the two great political gangs of public plum derers who heretofore have either singly or jointly held this city in their grasp, is actually possible this fall. The prob- ability is, therefore, that all the capital istic elements which usually support the Democracy will in disgust abstain from voting; while large number of people who have kept away from the polls for several years will welcome a genuine labor movement and avail themselves of | the ballot reform law to cast their votes in favor of honest labor candidates, nominated upon true labor platform. Again, the impetus given to the or ganization of labor by the eight hour movement has greatly strengthened the unions and promoted the spirit of soli- darity among the wage-workers A better feeling exists among them than at any time since 1886. And not only is this the case, but there has been during the last two years, and especially dur ing the last six months, great progress of ideas, owing to the vigorous and broad-minded policy of the Socialist La Dor party in this city since the Chicago Convention of October 12, the wonder ful success achieved by our Comrades of Germany at the Reichstag election, the victories gained by labor over capi- tai in England under the lead of Social ists, the great demonstrations on May Day throughout the world under the same lead, the bold stand taken by men of learning and leaders of thought on the platform and in the press against the capitalist system and in favor of Ma tionalist and Socialist ideas, and more perhaps than all this the natural develop ment of capitalism with it's national and international trusts and syndicates.
 Of course, the practical issues that Labor can press to the front in the next campaign are powerful and numerous. Among them we may mention the enactment of an eight hour law, by the State Legislature and by Congress, 80 as to consolidate and extend the benefits of the victories already won during the present eight-hour conflict; the entire suppression of child labor under F years of age, and comprehensive law of pub lie compulsory education, with all the necessary provisions for the building of schools and the feeding and clothing of poor children; the repeal of charters granted to monopolies and the direct ownership and running, by the people and for the people, through their muni- cipal, state and national governments, of the agencies of transportation and communication; sweeping reform of the police and limitation of its powers in accordance with the constitutional rights of individuals; the repeal of all pauper, tramp and conspiracy laws; the abolition of the Pinkerton thugs and other military or police agencies in the pay of capitalists; the suppression of so- called private charities, through which the children of the New York poor are exported to the West at the public ex- pense and actually reduced to slavery; the prevention of speculation in the ne- cessaries of life; the reform of our tene- ment house system; the requirement by the city, through the taxation of land to its full value, of all the vacant land within its limits and the erection thereon of comfortable dwellings for the work. CTS, to be let at rental no higher than sufficient to pay for wear and tear and repairs, besides fair share of the neces- sary taxes for general improvements and municipal government. The referendum and the right of constituencies to recall at will their unfaithful or laundering re- presentatives should not be omitted.
 All these and many others are practi. cal questions, of vital importance, which the people would readily comprehend because they would strike home at some wrong or suffering which every one sees or feels. Backed by recital of the cor ruptions of our political system, and of the expressions resulting from capital ism, they would awaken public senti- ment, which in intelligence and radical tendencies would far surpass any pre- vious manifestation of public disgust and unrest. As we have repeatedly said