The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-08
OF LABORING MEN
TRADES UNIONS OF THE COUNTRY
NOT UNIT FOR BRYAN.
A Local Labor Leader Points Out that
the Union Men Think and Vote
for Themselves.

Labor organizations are apt to be mis-
judged" said a man closely identified with
the organized labor movement yesterday.
''by the circulated report that the trades
unions of the country will take a stand for
Bryan. Men In labor organizations have
minds of their own, as much, If not more
SO. than among any other class. because
their bread and butter does not depend
upon the pleasure or displeasure of a poll
tician or friend of a politician who has an
ak TO grind. The trade unionist earns his
bread with his muscle and looks only to the
useful talents nature has provided to sup
ply his wants; therefore. he is free to think
as he pleases. and his vote is not to be in
iuenced by the glib tongue of a politician
or an alleged friendship that dies after
election day.
ITO say that the whole organized labor
element is for Bryan is ridiculous, and to
say that it stood for any one political party
would be as absurd. An employer Is an
employer, whether Democrat or Republic
an, and an employee considers him as such.
Union men work under a wage scale fixed
by their organization, and the employer
pays 1t, no matter what his political faith.
Neither does the union man care. From
my knowledge of the conditions of the la
boring men, I do not believe they are
shown any more favors I'm Democratic
than Republican shop. At least, / have
failed to see it. Bryan holds out the prom
Use that he will give the laboring men high
er wages; Mckinley offers to keep CONNER
cial and industrial affairs in a condition
that wages will be upheld as natural con-
sequence. This is my view of the situation.
so far as organized labor is concerned, and
l think the majority Of trades unionists are
with me.
This effort to drag trades unions into
politics is nothing short of an insult to the
iaboring men-this catering to catch the
organized labor vote as If 1t were market
able product Every labor leader knows
the danger of leading his organization into
politics; he knows the disastrous results
that have accompanied similar expert
ments. and If he is true to the movement
with which he Is identified he will not
jeopardize it's interests by attempting to
use the confidence placed in him TO infiu-
ence a presidential election. Every labor
ing man knows that he must work out his
own salvation; that mis- future welfare rests
with his organization. The effectiveness of
that organization depends upon its ability
to bring employer and employe closer to-
gether, and common sense teaches man
that offensive legislation to compel the
capitalist to pay his employees higher
wages, If such thing were possible, would
have learned that nothing can be accom-
plished by force, that their grievances must
be settled by peaceful negotiations. To
bring about this condition there must be
harmony between the two classes.
''Supposing the capitalists were In the
majority and by the ballot would elect an
administration that would reduce the
wages of the laboring men. Would that
bring harmony between the employer and
employee? Would not the two classes be far
Their apart than ever? That is the present
situation reversed Now, IL legislation were
enacted that would forcibly raise wages
would there be any disposition on the part
of the employer to treat with his men !?
The breach between the classes would be-
come wider and wider, and the present
tendency 10 a closer relation between the
capitalist and laborer that trades organiza-
tons have worked for years TO establish
would be lost AS the relationship grows
the union becomes stronger; as IL dimin-
ishes II becomes weaker. The present
strike in the anthracite coal regions shows
that there is better feeling between the
two elements. although the operators are
obstinate, but peaceful settlement is i'm
view. Think OF that great strike, 10000 idle
men. massed in idleness for three weeks
and no serious trouble. 1t shows they real
ize that their victory lies In peaceful meth
Knowing these things as organized labor
ing men do, is It not silly to say that the
entire body of trades unionists will take a
political stand in this presidential cleo
tom