St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-05
WELD a'Ea 4 BALLOT.


should Seriously discuss whether there
is not better and surer way of re-.
dressing their grievances than by means
fraught with SO much suffering to
themselves and loss to the community.
The damage wrought by the riots at
Chicago alone amounts to several mill
ions of dollars. The losses to the city by
the partial Stoppage of all business can
not be estimated, but it is not less than
ten millions of dollars. The strikers
themselves have suffered to the extent
of the wages they would have earned
during their period of idleness, and have
suffered in reputalion; for, justly or
unjustly, they will be held responsible
by the business community and the
public at large 70. acts committed by
the mobS. even though it is proved that
the actual rioters had no connection
with the labor organizations promoting
the strike
That labor is oppressed and suffers
great injustice on special occasions does
not admit Of question, and all good
citizens are sincerely DESTROYS that
means be taken to remedy the evils that
have crept into our Industrial system.
10 the Gil OBE there seems but one
effective means available-one sovereign
and supreme resort-the ballot. In po-
litical union the working classes will
find that their strength lies. During
the last presidential campaign their in
fiuenee was felt, and in very potent
direction. The Republicans had noml-
q q RI lott fnp
dent man who had ever been hostile
to organized labor. He was himself a
large employer of men, but insisted that
no person belonging to. labor union
should be given employment in his es-
adjustment. Towards the close of the
campaign he was induced by political
considerations and the solicitations of
the campaign managers to reScind his
former rule and to offer to make his a
union establishment, But this eleventh
hour repentance was too gauZy to de-
ceve. The workingmen chose to judge
him by his lifelong record, and they
condemned him at the polls in most
emphatic manner. The Democratic can
didate for the same Office was also
large employer, but had pdrsued diff
ferent course. He had encouraged or
ganized labor among his workmen, had
built them a hall and established a
library and free reading room, and had
manifested an interest in their welfare
In various other ways. Nearly all the
heads of families-all who desired it =
had been assisted in purchasing their
homes. and the community was pros
porous aud happy. The result was that
he received the support not only of his
own workmen, but of trades unionists
generally.
In the election referred to the, trades
unions, for the first time in our history,
made themselves felt in national pull
tics. In the American Federation of
Labor there were, at last reports, Co.
200 members. Fully half a million of
these are qualified voters. UDfortu-
nately for their own interests, they are
divided between the several political
parties, and their votes are seldom con-
centrated. 1t is easy to see. however.
what power they would WELD it they
should act together. 1t would be prac-
tically useless for them to form an in
dependent political party, for they COM
pose but small fraction of the electors.
But at every general election they hold
the balance of power, and could, if they
chose, dictate not only candidates, but
policies. They should ally themselves
with one of the old organizations, and
so shape its course as to secure for
themselves the recognition to which
they are entitled in equity aud the en-
actment Of such laws as shall be neces-
sary to protect them in their rights and
protect them frem oppression Still
acting as an organization, acting with
political party, yet independent of it,
they would occupy commanding posi-
ton. They would not be subject to CO.
ercion; they would be under obligations
to the party only so far and so long as
that party carried out its pledges to
them. Acting as unit, they would be
far more powerful than as individuals,
and on all questions that concerned
themselves would WELD the balance of
power, and be in a position to dictate
instead of being dictated to.
When it comes to choice as to which
OF the TWO great parties the working
men should ally themselves with, there
is no room for controversy. The Re-
publican policies of the past have been
inimical to the best interests of labor.
They have created and fOstered monop-
olles and trusts-giant combinations of
capital that Cypress and degrade labor
at every opportunity-and these monop-
olies have in turn dictated party action.
Under the guise of protecting American
labor, every workingman In the coun-
try has been burdened with onerous
taxes, imposed for the benefit of the
corporations and moneYed interests. 1t
may be true, as claimed by the leaders
OF the party, that the wages of labor
under our protective system have been
increased 20 per cent on an average !;
but it is equally true that the cost of
living has increased at least 60 per
cent all along the line. The capitalist
practically pays nothing for the support
OF government, for his assessments are
levied by him upon his employees. so
that ultimately labor is called upon to
bear the whole burden.
In the ballot, discreetly used for de-
Tense and aggression, may be found the
most effective weapon of labor. An
alliance with the Democracy. ever con-
spicuously insistent upon upholding the
dignity Of honest toll, will result in Civ
ing the labor element practical control
of the legislative power of the govern
ment. Votes are more potent than
strikes. The wisest of the labor leaders
are beginning to recognize this fact. A
strike at the polls, and a strike all
together, will impress our congress and
our people with the majesty and power
of labor far more forciblY than any num-
Der of desultory labor upheavals, with
all their accompanying horrors, could
possibly do. The ballot IS the weapon
to WELD. IL is far more powerful than
the cudgel OF the rioter or the torch of
the incendiary. 1t may be used Cor adj