The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-03
A LABOR DEMONSTRATION
Sentiment Among Labor
Unions Divided as to Its
Feasibility.
ORGANIZING FOR A PARADE.
Non-Union and Union Men VIII
Participate in the Celebration
of Labor Day.

The proposed labor demonstration in
favor of Eugene Debs, and against the re-
cent Supreme Court decision, which de-
clares for his imprisonment, together with
several other officers of the American
Railway Union, has not taken definite
form as yet, and the opposition which has
developed in several quarters during the
past two days makes it extremely proba-
BILE that the proposition may be dropped.
Those who oppose demonstration are
forced to take the stand as wishing to see
Mr.. Debs and his associates serve their
time in prison. This does not mean that
they approve of the decision, or that their
devotion to the cause of labor has grown
cold. The cause of labor is their watch
word. They assert that the imprisonment
of Debs will do wonders in opening the
eyes of the masses to the condition of
labor, and arousing popular strength to
the needs of the hour.
On the other hand there are many who
think that he has suffered enough already
and that the laboring men of the country
should now come to his aid with at least
| an expression of disapproval of the stern
| edicts of the powers that be.
| The executive committee of the Labor
| Council has the subject under considera-
tlOll anu tuc OiFlSlOu VI OplulOu ID Sdlu W
| be in this committee pretty nearly equal.
Zone thing may be set down as fact"
| said Harry Knox last evening. every
| labor union and every 1aboring man and
! every friend of labor on this coast is crying
out bitterly against this unjust and tyran-
nical decision of the Supreme Court. In
one way they are all in favor of a demon
stration, only some are of the opinion that
it would not be to the best interests of
| labor"
| Another topic of general interest in labor
circles at the present time is the recent
| formation of what is known as the National
| Labor Army. Though less than a week
old this organization has on its rolls a
membership of over 5000 men. It's mem
bership is not restricted to those who are
| identified with unions. A union man or a
man of no union may be admitted to it's
deliberations by conforming to prescribed
conditions, and all are admitted on an
| equal footing.
The object of the organization is to pro-
vide for labor parades, and incidentally to
| look after labor demonstrations of all
| kinds. The organizers claim that an i'm
perative necessity exists for such body
in order to show the strength of labor.
".Workingmen will march together"
said Harry Knox, member of the execu-
tive committee, yesterday, "but they will
not vote together. 1t is the only way we
have of showing our strength We expect
to have 10000 men in line on Labor day.
1--WE have made this organization broad
enough to include all classes of labor
union or non-union. Formerly only union
men could parade, and even then it was
difficult to get union out with anything
like full mem bership. AS a result we have
| always made poor showing, or rather q
showing insignificant with what might
| have been done. Another defective point
in the old system was lack of training
md d1cniY l1i I'M Vyn 10 OF 70
remedy in the new organization by hold
ing frequent drills, when the men will be
thoroughly instructed in marching tactics.
"This, by the way, is the secret of all the
troubles of labor that exist to-day-lack
of discipline. We cannot handle our own
| class legislation, and we have class legisla-
ton because the workingmen will not pull
| together. We are split into so many par
ties, divided by so many creeds and lured
into so many channels of personal interest
or prejudice that concentrated effort is an
utter lmpossibility.
when we have discipline we shall have
reform, and not until then. The laboring
men OF America can have anything they
want; their power is supreme when they
shall have learned the secret of exercising
it. If we want honest legislation in the
interest of the whole people, and not a
class, we must elect honest men.
The question is how to get the disci-
pline requisite to election that will bring
about reform. It's big question, too.
The riddle of the sphinx was not more
serious, and, in this case, also, not to
solve it is to die.
IF labor has not the inherent power,
however, to organize against the forces
that have conspired to crush her and eff
feet peaceable solution at the ballot-box,
then look out for the adoption of other
methods. The workingman of to-day is
not the workingman of fifty years ago.
The clanking of his chains seems to be
making a good deal of noise, In some
cases 1T has been known to disturb the
| slumber of his masters. He may get his
freedom one of these days. Time alone
will tell"