Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-11-18

M. NJ. Garland Of Pittsburg has for
years been a leader in the American
Federation OF Labor, and at the same
time has acted in each campaign as
monopoly stool pigeon by making he
publican speeches. Mr.. Garland re-
Gently resigned the presidency OF the
Amalgamated Association Of Iron anu
Steel Workers to assume the duties Oh
collector of the port at Pittsburg, TO
which position he had been appointed
as a reward for his services to Hanna
ism, and gave the Pittsburg Dispatch
an interesting interview on trades
unionism, from which the following
is taken:
you ask why we unite. 1t is be-
cause we must. 1t is not question OF
sentiment or charity. 1t is one of busi-
ness. The blood often tingles at the
sight of some brutalities Of industrial
chaos, but while this is an incentive II
is not the foundation of trades-union-
ism. We are trades-unionists because
there is no other agency that will Sc
cure for us good wages, shorter work
day, partial independence in the pres
eHt and some time, we hope, complete
independence. No school Of economic
thought but acknowledges the necessity
of union to attain as we'll as to hold
what has been obtained. One individ-
ual cannot lift ten hundredweight, but
ten men can do it with ease"
Are trades-unions progressive?"
Eyes, progressive and slow; slow be-
cause they have the mass to educate
and progressive because Of the educa-
ton. During the last ten years the
trades-unioIs have found common
ground upon many new ideas. Wheth-
er they are all correct or not will not
attempt to say; such are nationaliza-
ton Of what are thought to be inevita-
BILE monopolies, mines, railroads, tele-
graphs, telephones, municipal control
of street cars, light, water, the aboli-
ton Of land monopoly; also of money
monopoly, direct legislation, the Aus
tralian ballot system and others. All
have been Endorsed by trades-unions.
ut is worthy of note that greater
public spirit is being manifested in our
municipal life, and municipal owner
ship Of public works, bugaboo of a
decade ago, when first demanded by la
Dor, is now becoming popular"
Quite true. The platform Of the
Federation of Labor advocates the
above reforms, but such misleaders as
Mr.. Garland support the platform only
when there is no political campaign on.
The Populist platform includes all
OF the reforms asked by organized la
Dor. Why are Mr.. Garland and others
like him Republicans instead of Popu-
lists? The answer probably is that
collectorships may be more freely
gathered in the Republican pastures;
but what good does that do the rank
and file of Pennsylvania workingmen-
such men as were shot at Hazleton and
Homestead?
The abolition of the money monop-
oily" is admitted by Mr.. Garland to be
one Of the principles Of organized la
Dor. He does not mention the free
coinage of silver, but 1t is a fact that
every convention of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor declares with actual
unanimity for silver at 16 to 1, Does
any sane man imagine that the money
monopoly will ever be overthrown by
the Republican party?
Public ownership Of monopolies is
an original Populist doctrine, and has
this year been Endorsed by several
Democratic conventions; but not an
atom Of Republican support has it ever
received.
Direct legislation has been voted up
on in several state legislatures, receiv-
ing the solid support of silver mem
bers and the uniform opposition of Re-
publicans. No Republican support has
ever been given to direct legislation
anywhere, while Populists all advocate
1t. The Democrats, too, in eleven
states this year Endorsed direct legis-
lation, and William ]. Bryan is on rec
ord in its favor. What excuse has a
trades-unionist for being a Republic
an?