Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-09-01
THE LABOR CONVENTION.

THE LABOR tONNENTloN'
SO the representatives Of organized
labor are to meet IN convention in
Chicago on September q to consider
what shall be done to change present
methods in governmental matters. a
prominent feature that comes up FOR
condemnation on the part of those VINO
will compose that convention Is the
attitude Of the courts in the extent ana
application and extent of injunction
orders. But there il more than this.
The general ground is that the con-
Btitutipnal guaranty OF liberty ~
broken so far as the laborlng classes
are concerned; that they are de-
prived OF liberty without due process
OF equitable laws. and that the courts
behind which is the government force
that should make the guaranty good,
affirm the deprivation of freedom com
planned of. The declaration in eject
is that, by the course of the majority
in this nation. either through activ-
ity or neglect, the protection and free
dom Of the Republic are things OF the
past, so far az the working classes are
concerned.
There Is no denying the fact That
laborins classes have much to COM
plain of in this regard; that oppression
and Injustice are rampant In business
political and social circles. The reply
may be made that the fault Is not all
on one side; that there is oppression
and inconsistency and much selfish
ness and wrongdoing on the side OF
the laboring classes as wei as
OF the wealthy and the employers
OF labor. But the existence
OF all this does not change
the fact that the laborers have serI-
Gus cause of complaint on the grounds
they have alleged; and further that
the protest against the EVIL comes
first and with most violence from
those who are placed In deepest dis
tress by reason OF injustice ana OPP
preston.
This is not the first nor yet the best
grounded complaint of disregard OF
constitutional guarantees in this ma
ton; though perhaps is is or win be
the most vehement up to date. The
domain of religious freedom has been
invaded, and when this was done 1t
was pointed out, not alone by the suf-
ferers, but by leading men in the ma
tlon, that the entering wedge would
produce disastrous effects. The veri-
fication of that prediction lis being de-
clared in current events.
What will the Chicago labor con-
rention do? Perhaps not much more
than talk when its immediate action
IS considered. Rut the seed viii be
sown, is being sown even now, for n
very serious disturbance. The present
talk of bloodshed, and arming, and re-
volution may be more froth than liquid
now, but it must bear It's fruit through
constant cultivation such as II VIII re-
ceive under the conditions that exist.
The Chicago labor union convention
may not create much of furry when
1t Ia held, but It will be n land
mark in AN agitation which
is ominous of serious results.
IT is one of the incidents in
the course of this nation toward
n time when patriotism Will be called
upon to stand forth in heroic power to
maintain constitutional liberty in thi.
land
As for the success of any movement
of this kind to re-establish perfect
freedom and equal rights for all. there
is much question. It is too much of n
fioundering to accomplish the desir-