The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-02-21


There's no if about it. Labor is going to
rally. Jos. R. BUCHANAN.
A FRANK AND FILE" OPINION.
One Not . Leader Indicates a Course For
the Workers, Especially For knights.
Especial Correspondence
have been an interested reader Of the
"get together" agitation urged by Jos.
r. Buchanan, in which the labor leaders
have had full swing, and trust that an
expression from one of the rank and file
will not be amiss.
AS the true welfare of nation de-
ponds upon the happiness of its pro-
ducers, and though ideals of happiness
differ widely, we may, taking into &C.
count our civilization, generalize under
the head of happiness the essentials of
life, food, raiment and shelter, of which
each individual should have enough for
health and comfort. Under the wonders
of our civilization this is a moderate
standard. That many, many thousands
of human beings fall short of this stand
ard is self evident fact. That the task
of raising the poorer and consequently
ignorant and imbruted members of So
ciety to a condition of comfort and re-
spectability is difficult one we must
acknowledge.
In so far as the trades union has en-
deavored to achieve something in the d.
rection Of betterment for such people
it's existence is justified. Trades unions
have increased the rate of wages. When
they started out to do this, it was assert
ed that with increase Of wages would
arise increase of intemperance and idle
ness, but the facts have proved the con-
trary. With increase of wages the tene-
ment is left behind, comforts become ne
cessities, mental improvement takes
place, self respect is asserted, all Ct
which means that happiness has been in
creased. But in spite Of all this trades
unions are necessarily selfish, though
they now begin to see that which other
business organizations have proved that
cooperation produces better results than
competition. Owing to diversity of in
terests and conditions, different trades
cannot become united on mere union
lines, as witness the result in the history
of the Knights of Labor.
Trades unionism is good thing in its
way. It helps a class, removes certain
evils, but does not touch the cause If it
depended on the conservative action of
the trades unions, labor would remain
unemancipated.
The original aim Of the Knights of La
Dor was higher and holier-the emanci-
patton of all labor; to remove causes, not
tinker with symptoms. Its founders rec
ognized that no permanent good can be
secured except through legislation; but,
sad to relate, but few Knights are famil-
lar with the basic principles Of the order,
and very feeble has been the effort to
have its principles enacted into law. The
order has been diverted from its original
purpose, and the attempt to make it a
mere aggregation of trades unions has
met with dismal but deserved result.
To get the order on the right track and
back to first principles should be labor
of love to every true Knight.
And in this work there is much to
cheer us on when we consider that the
farmers of the south and west are brave
ly battling for and gallantly carrying to
the polls the demands of the Knights of
Labor. They have adopted platform
which, if made law, means death to mo-
nopoly life and Industrial freedom to Ia
Dor. A system that concentrates wealth
and power in the hands of few must
be overthrown. To allow monopoly to
live and simply tax its plumber will not
do. We must stop the plundering. No
mere method of taxation will suffice.
Surely the time is ripe for political
action. The workingmen of this coun-
try can control every legislative body
and every executive officer if they choose
The voters of this country are to blame
for the present state of affairs We have
too long fought in the armies of plutoc-
racy. Let us rebel, and armed with the
ballot make one grand effort in our own
behalf. We have the power, but lack
the will. We have the votes, but lack
unity and cohesion.
Rally at the primaries, control the
nominations, and the elections will be an
easy matter. This is the duty of Knight
hood as I understand it.
JOHN HOssACK.
Jersey Citv.