St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-14
A CONGRESS oFLAROR.

labor organizations held at st. Louis
this week has agreed that hereafter
they will meet semi-annually for the
purpose of considering questions and
devising plans for the advancement and
protection OF the toiling masses. 1t was
also recommended that the working
masses should throw off the yoke of
political partisanship and vote indie
pendently in order that the wealth
producers OF America may be fully
represented in making and executing
our laws.
No one can find fault with the pro-
gramme adopted, and there will be
general hope that the plan suggested
will be as successful as its originators
hope. And, as rule, all the plans pro-
posed by the labor leaders for the ad-
vancement of the interests of their fell
lows are we'll conceived. and their fail
ure is due almost invariably to bad
management during the work of execu-
ton. A recommendation is one thing;
carrying out that recommendation is an
entirely different matter.
The body which 1t is proposed to Gre
ate under the new plan would possess
only advisory powers. 1t would have
no authority to enforce its recommends
tions-to compel that unity of action
through which alone success may be
attained. The result would be that
many of the organizations would dissent
from the views of the governing board
and refuse to obey its mandates. And
the attainment of any practical results
IRON the organization would be as far
Oft at the end of the year as it is at pres
ent.
There is lack of homogeneity. of har-
mony of interest, among the labori ny
classes that is an element of great
weakness. The policies that may best
serve one trade may be the worst pos
sible for another. The ironworker NAV
be benefited by legislation that will be
all injury to the woodworker, or vice
versa. The farmer may profit from
laws that impose hardship upon the
mechanic. and the toiler in the mines
may suffer from laws that prove of
great profit to his brother above ground.
Human wisdom is powerless to devise
system of laws which shall bear
equally upon all classes distributing
the burdens and the benefits impair
TALLY.
But. although the expectations of the
promoters of this new movement may
be somewhat ut0plan, there is a POSI-
bility of much benefit to the working
classes from an intelligent treatment of
NJ n hot ,s,l,;
diction. AS announced, it seems to be
the purpose to add to the dignity of
labor organizations by giving them a re-
SponSible head-a central government.
composed of congress representing all
interests. The idea is the same in es-
sence as that which underlies the fed.
eral governmental union of subsidiary
states or bodies into one. and the crea .
ton of a power which shall be supreme
in the matters that are not expressly
within the jurisdiction of the individual
members who compose the whole. 1t
will be the final court for the settlement
OF all disputes. as we'll as the active
agent of the laboring classes in all mat
tiers affecting their interests that may
come before state or national legis-
latures and before the courts, both state
and federal. Such body, composed of
men of good character, sound judgment
and cool dellberation, may effect manv
needed reforms. But there is danger
that 1t may fall into the hands of de-
signing and INSCRIPTIONS men, who will
use the power committed to them for
their own personal advantage. The
leaders would of necessity be pol
iticians, and, as all men know, pol
iticians are not always to be relied upon.
They are apt to be Influenced by various
considerations, more or less unworthy.
Almost every day we see evidences of
this in the devious ways of our senators
and representatives in congress. These
are men of superior order of inteIli-
gence, and yet we learn that many of
them have sold themselves to policies
that they were elected to oppose, and
are ringleaders In conspiracies to rob
the people whose interests they were
chosen to defend. ALI Of these men are
not deliberately dishonest. Many think
they are honest and sincere. They have
simply succumbed to superior cunning
and intelligence at the beck of the mo-
nopolists. They have been hypnorized,
and are no longer masters of themselves,
but act III obedience to the wishes of
their masters. 1t is not to be expected
that congress Of workingmen. few Of
the members of which are familiar with
the ways of the lobbyist and the poll.
tician. would be superior to men who
have spent the greater part of their
lives in politics. Honest as they NAV
be in purpose. sincere as they may be
in intent, they would have superior
strength OF character If they did not fall
into the meshes Of the adroit Lobbyists
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