The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-01-03

ct the ballot box, for the powsr that controls
the politics Of nation controls the purse strings
Of it, people-aye, their very lives and death.
And In this nation at this time, and likely to
continue for al time II permitted, our poll
ticians Of both dominant parties are controlled
by the powers directly interested In the ex-
spoliation of the workers. Therefore, to real
lie the purpose for which trade organization
is designed-to secure to the worker the full
fruits of his acknowledgement political action
away from all monopolistic influences is essen
tfal. Trades organizations. as now conducted,
are serviceable only in part-they are as brakes
10 the wagon to keep it from running headlong
down the hill, but can never pull it upward.
In the meantime, pending preparation for
the great strike and victory at the polls, the
determination and cooperation of the different
organizations-as a trinity in employing
the silent weapon of the boycott where need
was found to ''enjoin an opDressor," would
have marvellous potency on the greed or ra-
pacity of the despoiler, as a weapon defensive
or offensive, if needs be. With the organize
lions pulling in different directions, holding
different sympathies and pursuing different
policies, as at present, this bond Of union and
fraternity that would consider the Injury of
one as the concern of all'' can never be realized.
Should not a conference of the several officers
OF the national organizations, together with
others whom they might invite, be the first
step in the programme? If SO, would suggest
that the new G. M. w. of the K. of L. be the
man to call it. His freedom from the bcker-
ings and animosities of the past ought to make
him acceptable to all. Trusting that success
may crown your efforts in this noble undertak-
ing. I remain, fraternally yours.
True to his record, Samuel Gompers
testifes to his faith in trade union meth
DDS, but he is for united action. Writ
ing from Chicago, where he was attend
ing the convention of the American
Federation of Labor, he says:
Jos. R. Buchanan:
l am with you heart and soul with the gen.
eral sentiment and purpose of your letter, al
though l must dissent from the thought you
imp1y-that the trades unions will not be able
to cope with the new conditions Of industry
which will present themselves with a revival
Of industry. l maintain that the trades unions
possess the greatest qualities of elasticity
They are broad or narrow in the same degree
with the intelligence, or otherwise, of the wage
earners. We can make of them whatsoever
we will-tO right wrongs and acquire rights
feel certain that the American Federation
of Labor would favor q fair scheme for the CO
operation of all labor and reform organiza-
lions, but there must be no attempt to inter
fere with the right of the trades unions to regu-
late their own affairs. The treaty of peace of.
fered in 1885, and frequently repeated since, is
still the basis for peace in the ranks of those
who struggle to secure the realization of true
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness''-la-
boris emancipation. SAMUEL GOMPERs.
Eugene V. Debs has given positive evil
dence of his position by his active lead.
ership in the formation of the American
Railway union, of which he is the presi-
dent. That he believes in further con-
centration of the forces he here testifes
Jos. R. Buchanan:
In reply to your note of the 9Th inst, have
to say that am in hearty accord with every
movement contemplating harmonious relations
between every branch of organized labor. More
than a year ago suggested in article pub
Hshed in The Locomotive Firemen's Magazine
the propriety of calling a congress of repre-.
sentatives OF all labor organizations for the
purpose of discussing ways and means for such
unifcation would make the labor army in
vincible. am still of the opinion that such a
meeting of the representatives Of labor would
be of incalculable value, and | further believe
that the times are eminently suspicious for the
assembling OF such deliberative body. Yours,
fraternally, EUGENE V. DEBs
Joe Labadie sees difficulties ahead, but
he has faced them before and is ready to
tackle the job again. He writes from
his Detroit home:
JOS R. Buchanan:
1 thoroughly sympathize with the effort to
form great movement for united action by
the useful classes against the useless and ma
rauding classes. No existing organization can
do that which is desired because of the wounds
torn open afresh by the thoughtless and mar
row.
Delsarte gives us this as the fundamental
principle of physical grace and elegance,
Control at the center, freedom of the extrem-
tiles" Why not adopt this as the guiding
principle of the new organization?
A difference in the two schools of social-in-
dustrial reform will be met at the start-viz,
government control versus antigovernment
control. The difficulty will be to harmonic
these elements.
The objects of the new movement should be
radical and should demand free access to the
land, free trade, free money!. e., q circulat-
ing medium based upon the wealth and credit
of those voluntarily co-operating-the aboli-
ton of the patent right system so as to give
the workers the benefit of inventions, liberty,
equity and justice. 10 ahead. l am with you.
Fraternally, JOSEPH A. LABADIE.
Frank K. Foster of the Boston Labor
Leader has crowded as much experience
in labor matters into the past Is years
as any man in the movement, but Frank
may be wrong about the Knights of La
Dor. That organization can be built up
and made powerful for good, but of
course changes of one kind or another
must clear the way for progress Eos
ter is clean cut in his trades unionism:
Jos. r. Buchanan:
One Of the most eminent of Massachusetts
jurists said to me not long since, Your friend
Buchanan writes with quite fine old abo-
itionist spirit"
That spirit was one of the most worthy ever
shown among men, and is not out CT place
when applied to the antislavery cause of today
! yet believe that you do underrate the scope
and breadth of trade union possibilities. The
trade union is the most scientific form of Or
ganization for labor sellers. Its fitness to sur
vive has been demonstrated past the need OF
argument. There is no reason why all trades
and callings of wage ,earners should not feder-
ate under the A. f. n L.
Your analysis of the influences which work ed
the downfall of the Knights of Labor is in the
main accurate. You should have added that
the order was also structurally weak in its
methods of handling labor difficulties.
do not think that the Knights of Labor can
be resuscitated. The men who were most
largely responsible for the Richmond policy
control the executive board today.
l should be in favor of new organization fol
educational work, On lines broad and flexible
enough to contain all social reform advocates
W Z