Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-06
PIrTsBURG, THURSDAY. AUGUsTs 6. 1ss
a sINGULAR REPoKT.

The remarkable publication of the Leg
islative Committee of the Knights of La-
Dor, upon the State Legislation of the last
session, is striking corroboration of re-
cent statements in THE DISPATCH that
these labor leaders have determined TO
cast their lot with the Republican mana
gers The methods by which a favorable
aspect is given the actions of the majority
in the Legislature and an attack made
upon the minority, invest the document
with the aroma of campaign literature for
Republicans.
As to the subject-matter of the docu-
ment it is necessary, however, to say that
those WHO undertakethe championship of
the late Legislature essay so arduous a
task that they can be left to struggle with
it. That body had excellent opportun-
ties TO make record of fidelity to
the interests of +. the whole public; but
the best that can be said of it
from ;he point of view that takes
in ali the populac interests, is that there
were no evidences Of corruption in its
actions. There is, OF course, the usual
adruixture Of good measures and bad
ones in its perfected legislation; but its
greatest vice was shown in the bills which
it failed 10 pass and the way in which it
weakened and couiItatfeited genuine and
importsnt measures in some of the bills
which it did pass.
Most of the measures which are taken
By the Knights of Labor Committee as
criteria by which to judge Of the two
political parties come He'within the category
Of class legislation. Those who align
their political attitude by class measures
are introducing a false and dangerous
measurement But even that is surpassed
by the strange logic with which this COM
mittee credits the Republicans in the Leg
islature forrUhe bills which it did pass, and
blames the Democrats for the failure Of
the bills which did not pass Certainly if
the raajOrity is to he credited with the
one, it is no more ~tkan honest TO charge it
with the other.
The point on which the KF OF L. Com
mittee enlarges to,the greatest extent is
the Constitutional Convention. On that
measure the people viii pass at the COM
ing election. 1t will then be decided
whether the leaders, of that organization
have acted wisely in pinning it to such an
issue In the meantime it is impossible to
understand what delusion has led them to
the belief that the calling of the eonven-
tion is a movement2in the interest of labor.
The convention, if it meets, will afford
the great corporations their most favora-
able opportunity for getting rid OF the
restrictions which the present Constitution
imposes upon them. The representation
in the proposed new convention is so
framed as to improve that opportunity,
and the nominations to that body so far
as made exhibit marked preponderance
Of corporate influence. The interests of
labor are much better guarded under the
present Constitution, if maintained and
enforced, than they are likely to be under
a Constitution produced by convention
under the same influences as dominated
the last Legislature and emasculated the
ballot reform bill.
On many other measures THE DISPATCH
is in sympathy with the efforts of the labor
men to obtain legislation; but with regard
10 the Constitutional Convention the in
terests Of the whole people call for its de-
feat at the next,election-