The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-06
SCOFF AT The IDEA.
Federation of Labor
Men Want No
Politics.
PIERCE ON THE R. OF |.
Trade Unionists Pleased
Over the Town
Meeting.
PIERCE ON THE R. OF |.

AT the meeting of the Knights of La
Dor, in Boston, Saturday, a measure
will be introduced calling for the for
nation of a political party The plat
form as suggested is anti-expansionis-
tic, and favors government ownership
of street railways and telegraph COM
panies. The American Federation OF
Labor will be asked to cooperate in
the movement The federation will
scott at the idea, if local leaders are
competent judges.
The knights of Labor is practically
dead in this city, but the American
Federation of Labor has plenty of life
In It's local branches. Jefferson D.
Pierce. four years the president of the
state branch of the American Fedora
tion of Labor, recently said: THE con-
stitution of the Federation forbids en-
trance into politics. There is but one
advocacy on the part of the body, and
that is independent voting.
81 do not believe the Federation will
entertain thoughts of cooperating with
the Knights of Labor for a minute.
The Knights of Labor is a weak or
ganization. The absorption of the
Knights of Labor by the American Fed
time. Personally, l do not favor the
political tendency Of the movement,
which is not entirely a new one. If
such party is formed, 1T viii be a
radical departure in labor circles Men
who favor trades unions know that
good can be accomplished through the
EFFORTS OF TRADE UNIONIsTs.
do not know what action the Ameri-
N l..
garding the invitation to join the
knights of Labor in the movement
THE political aims and ambitions of
many prominent labor leaders have re-
suited in the ruination of the union or
body they represented. 1t has al
ways been a game, faVorite among
political leaders, to drag labor unions
into politics for the sake of building
up the political parties of the present
day Candidates who favor trade I'M
ion principles have been placed ON dem
ocratic and republican tickets, and the
chances of the candidates have seemed
bright under such auspices, but it has
been the invariable rule that on cleo
ton day the candidate who was placed
on political tickets as a representative
Of organized labor is swamped. No
political party wants labor advocates
to get into office"
j. P. F. Frey, vice president of the
state branch, American Federation of
Labor, said THE subject is one that
will require deep thinking before any
opinion can be expressed. The knights
of Labor, once power,
IS NOW A WEAKLING.
At the recent state convention of the
Federation, a resolution was passed,
urging that committee be appointed
to bring members Of the knights of
Labor under the wing of the American
Federation of Labor. 1t is not likely
that the Federation will take any
steps to become recognized as part of
the knights of Labor in a political
sense.
'In other states labor leaders have
been led into believing that power fol-
lowed amalgamaton with a political
party. Massachusetts has kept out Of
politics, and the state branch of the
Federation is one of the most valuable
in the country as help to the working
classes. 1 believe that through trade
unions alone, the laboring men will be
benefited A political party would
ruin all chance of having any legisla-
ton that would better organized labor
or the masses.
'By clinging fast to trade union prin-
ciples, we have been enabled to have
men representing all political parties
vote for bills which have favored us.
Laws regulating the employment of
minors, the guarding of workmen
against accident by ratings around ma
chinery of death-dealing nature, were
enacted after trade union representa-
tives had used their voices and influ-
ence in favor of passage.
"Politics or entrance into it as body
will not help the trade union move
ment, and am in favor of strict ad-
herence to the policy of being trade
1nionist and not a politician