The Washington times., 1894-07-20
HOW THE STRIKE Is A SUCCESS.

hUW me blhkA6 10 n buOCEc9
az scarcely expected such vast outpouring Of
the people tonight. 1t shows that the people
are at last aroused, but the history that has
been made in this city and in the whole country
In the last few days is sufficient reason for It, Al
last We are making protest against the indus
trial wrong and tyranny that have lasted for a
generation. If make the protest logical
and emphatic we will muster out these tyrants,
and without the loss Of a single drop of precious
blood with the priceless lever that still remains
in the hands Of freemen.
"Let us march or walk out TO the ballot box and
there deposit our protest that descends silently
like the dew from heaven. 1t is what tyrants
hate. Little did i think that the seed had been
planted so we'll No longer will believe it pos
sible TO divide the ranks of American wage
workers Thank God I'm. one of the few wage
workers that believed emancipation of wage
workers possible We will have our rights peace
fully at the ballot box ~--
The above was spoken by NJ. H. Madden,
president OF the Illinois State Federation OF
Labor, at a meeting Of the federation in Chi
cago, called to ratify the action of the state
body.
About the same time that Mr.. Madden was
speaking these words in Bricklayers' Hall,
corner Peoria and Monroe streets, in Chicago,
other meetings were being held in the various
public parks Of New York where freedom of
speech is allowed. These latter meetings
were addressed by socialists Of various de-
grees OF radicalism, and their single cry was
..ballots instead of bullets"
Here then is representative meeting of
laborers in one of our greatest labor states de-
claring for remedy by the ballot-box, and at
the same time thsre are other meetings of
socialists in New York city, the hot-bed Of
such sentiment, declaring for the same meas
ures --------.- -
Here is evidence that the awakening has be-
gun; that wage-earners will finally forsake
strikes for the organization of an internal au-
tonomy that shall elect the men whom it
pleases; that labor win soon win over to itself
its great and good, but money-debauched
friends, law. and the administration of law.
There is continual talk among demagogues,
cranks, and personal advertisers about the
terrible subversion and prostitution of our
Federal Constitution in the matter OF free
speech and the various other abstract rights
guaranteed to US by our forefathers. Well,
what If all that is true? The Constitution
would be worth its reputation in the hearts of
Americans did it contain nothing else save
the magnificent grant of free franchise to all
sons of the starry flag.
Therein is all power Therein is the
scepter that makes every American voter a
king. Therein is the great leveller that puts
the poorest citizen on the same plane with
the richest and says TO the monied few, "thou
shalt not act against the well-being OF the
impoverished many"
All this is the good side-the presentation
of abstract possibilities. Against this great
opportunity exist at present two dire preventa-
tives the campaign fund and the professional
politician. The one has and does debauch
great future good with a present picayune
pittance; the other plays upon the weak cred
ulence of the many and the political ambition
OF few and turns them against the good Of
the whole.
And so the strike has won after all, by its
very failure. 1t has been a magnificent OBJ
jecr lesson. 1t has opened the eyes of labor
TO the real remedy and TO the conditions that
make the application of the remedy impossi-
BILE.
The light is dawning tor the American
workingman. In his hand is an aggregate
vote of gigantic size in comparison to that in
the hands of the money power. His right to
cast that vote is guaranteed by the Constitu-
tion. His real enemies are the ward vote
buyer and the ward politician, and each crisis,
such has just passed, only serves to exhibit
these gentlemen in their true character.
Look toward next November. That is the
date set for completion of the great strike,
and only then can it be judged failure or
a success.