The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1892-10-12
LABOR DAY.
Political Tricks as Viewed by Topeka
Mechanic.


tember, each year, is now denominsted
"Labor Day." and is, we believe, the
creation Of the American Federation OF
Labor. 1t is day for massing and re-
viewing the labor forces of the country,
not In fighting psraphernalia, but In holi-
day attire, and has grown in favor during
the past few years, until now It is legal
holiday in Kansas and many other states.
Last Labor day (September s. was
regularly observed In Topeka by pa
rsde of trade unions In the morning, and
with miscellaneous ceremonies at the fair
grounds In the afternoon. Early in the
season, the farmers alliance in Shawnee
county were invited to occupy place In
the procession, but that invitation was
afterwards qualified by imposing con-
dition that no political" banners be dis
played. Considering the fact that the
alliance is a society Of farmers organized
on exactly the same lines as the me
chanlcs' trades unions, and quite as nom
political, the proviso against political"
banners was uncalled for and looked very
much like q counter-invitstlon to stay
out. It is said to have been first sug-
gested by republican heelers In the ser
vice Of the republican state central COM
mlttee, and was caused to be introduced
in the Topeka trades assembly for dis
cussion evidently for the purpose of TO
menting dlscord. Indeed, they (the
pOliticians) asserted that ''the alliance
must be Kept OUT" and SO 1t tcame to pass
that the alliance did not parade.
Republican politicians learned long ago
that majority Of the trade union labor
Ing men are anti.republican in politics.;
that they are largely class of independ-
emit thinkers and voters. In fact, trade
unionism has already done for the me-
chanic just what the alliance Is now
doing for the farmer, viz: educating him
to think and act for himself. For this
reason corrupt politicians are always on
the alert to prevent mobilization Of In
dependent voting forcesS
For years It was deemed revolutionary
for worklngmen to congregate in large
bodies for any purpose whatsoever; but
when governments (aristocratlc poll
tlcIans) found men were willing to sacri
fee even their lives to secure that liberty,
trade unions were licensed by law. That
was an important victory; but the spirit
of oppression still lives, and the poll
ticians have adopted another plan. Since
they eau no longer prevent organization,
they now seek to stir up strife and antsgo-
nism between the several societies. They
recognize, they knOU, that II the inde-
pendent labor vote should be cast as a
unit for any particular candidate or prin-
ciple, the opposition would be practically
wiped out Of existence. Knowing this,
every scheme Is tried to bait the working
man, and spies are hired to join the Or
gsnizations and buy up sSlable material
already in, who act as mediums through
which information and literature may be
conveyed back and forth between the
lodge rooms and political headquarters.
They even go further. They go out
Into the bY-ways and organize ''trsds
unions" where no trade exIsts,sn example
Of which is the so called Brotherhood Of
Station Men," which was worked into
shape by the secretary Of states chief
clerk and one of the state railroad com
miaaIonePa. in kha stafa houaa in Tonaka L