The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-26

Recently the American Federation OF
Labor met at Detroit. Mich. IL Is a
strong and important body n can be
felt in the shaping of the destfnieS OF
this country. IL adopted resolutions
that may prove of Importance. Il p
poses all plans of imperialism. and de-
mands that the standing army shall
not be increased, but reduced TO 25.0ee.
which surely is suffice Mt If this coun-
try is to remain any thing Of a consti-
tutional republic. The imperialists are
for a great standing army OF course.
Their plans viii require such a force,
for the liberties of the people cannot
be violently assailed unless backed by
a large body OF soldiers under the con-
troll of the central power. The de-
mands of the American Federation OF
Labor stands in the way somewhat OF
a movement for the destruction of the
present form Of government and the
setting up OF an imperialistic power
at the centre. The practical politician
may not willingly butt his head against
the stonewall of this potential fedora
ton. The Houston (Texas) Post, writ
ing of the awe OF the politicians when
the Federation has spoken, says peril
nently:
1T is now in hand for these unctious
o~ficeholders and oficeseekers who,
yielding to President Mckinley's por-
trayal of the vast profits and oppor-
tunities to accrue to the American Ia
borer through imperialism, have stray
cd off into dangerous parts TO explain
that the government can ~subjugate and
hold distant lands without standing ar
mics of vast dimension. OF course.
this explanation will down the hungry
throat of American labor like cordial
and. content with the delicious and
warming liquor, he will be satisfied to
ask no embarrassing questions. But.
seriously, the American laborer will be
deceived by no such audacious nom
sense. The American laborer is the
type of American industrial intelli-
gence-the superiority Of which stands
acknowledged the world over. He de-
mands Of American officialism a just.
an equitable and q wise administration
Of affairs. He sometimes makes mis-
takes, under imprudent or selfish lead
ership, but these he hastens TO correct
when discovered or demonstrated"
American labor can never find it to
its interest to overthrow the govern
ment and help to create a great, de-
spotic power by whatever name it
may do business. At the recent meet
ing at Detroit another important reso-
luton was adopted that may reach far.
1t favored an independent course as to
political parties, n recommends that
the various central and local organiZa-
tons of Workmen in the country take
steps to use their political power, as
electors on independent lines" How
far this will be acted upon remains
to be seen. But of the curse recon-
mended is pursued then 1T Will af-
feet all parties, as members of the
Federation are identified with h va
rious political parties. The purpo
is not to start a new party, but to make
tho ENndnrn finn Irnita1 a GfTnnO factor
in elections by giving its votes to the
party { the time advocating public
measures that promise most to the
welfare, political and personal, of its
members. In the convention it was
set forth why this new course was rec
commended, and it is of such moment
that we opy as follows:
The various reports submitted by
our trades union officials are in effect
that so far as our efforts by petitions
and interviews with the legislatures of
the various states and the Federal gov
m are concerned little has been
accomplished by the aforementioned
methods. for where a so-called b
law is passed it is either declared I'M
constitutional by the courts or allowed
to remain a dead letter on the statute
books"
That explains why a new course of
action is recommended for general
adoption. Previous efforts to secure
favorable consideration from the pow
ers hat be" having failed, it is in or
der to try another method of procedure.
So it is planned hat the Federation
be entirely independent of all parties,
and that this great body of voters sup
port in an election that party which
offer, most advantages and blessings
to organized labor. This must prove
a very important movement If the plan
is generally adopted