The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-08-01
ORGANIZED LABOR.

The Republican state con vention Of
Wisconsin on Wednesday last, in it's
platform, Endorsed the right of labor to
organize for self-defense and did not
mention even by implication the Chi
cagO strike. This is what we may
style the evolution of the platform.
The convention which placed Mr..
Loren Fletcher in nomination for con-
gress in this district took pains to in
dorse the spaSmOdic effort of Senator
Davis. wherein he gave organized labor
a slap in the face. The Republican
state convention passed the matter
over in silence, but adopted some vague
platitudes regarding the preservation
of law and order. Now comes the Wis
consin Republican state convention
and ignores the entire subject, except
as above stated. The fact of the mat
ter is these bullheaded constructors of
political RATS have at last got it
through their skulls that those paid
misrepresenters of the facts, where the
interests Of corporations are con-
cerned, the daily newspapers, do not
voice public opinion. Fully Is per cent
of the people are on the side of the
Chicago strike, and these political ac-
robats have at last found it out.
Hence the rapid evolution in the plat
form.
The man who denies the right of
labor to organize is traitor to his
country. The consolidation of the
great army of toilers to resist the en-
ed, purse-proud aristocrats is just as
much patriotic duty today as it was
to snatch musket and start for the
front when the South fired on the flag.
To hold back in either case is to ex-
pose that flag to certain extinction as
the emblem of united, prosperous
people. No man has anything to fear
from organized labor who is not in the
enjoyment of stolen wealth or illegal
privileges. Labor risks everything on
the peace, stability and prosperity of
the nation. If the rich man is dissat-
isfied with his surroundings he can do
as did William Waldorf Astor, HE
himself to England or elsewhere. Not
so with the man who lives by labor.
Like Ixion, he is chained to the wheel.
All he asks is the right to labor and
receive remunerative pay therefor
His safety, the safety and happiness Of
those dependent upon him, lies in
peace, not in the peace of the grave,
but the peace of prosperity. When
that peace is threatened it is duty
which he owes to himself, his country
his family and his God to organize for
its defense. Having organized, his
motto, and he can have no nobler one,
should be can injury to one is an in
jury of ALL" Without that his organi-
cation is sadly misnamed and it's eff
forts will be wholly futile.
This is not an argument for nor a
defense of acts of violence or resistance
to the lawfully constituted authori-
ties. The necessity for that has not
yet arisen in this country. The organi-
zation of labor is intended to prevent
it from ever arising. 1t is intended, and
wisely, to rescue this country from
impending anarchy. All history fails
to show one solitary instance of the
fall of great nation from the exac-
tions of the common people. They
have fallen only when the lower classes
have submitted to the Injustice and
cruelty Of avarice and wealth. Labor,
organized labor, is patient. Its ways
are the ways Of peace and in it the
safety of the nation lies.