The Tucson citizen., 1902-08-04
LABOR IN POLITICS.

EIIOOtN IIN I OLol tOos
/ The trades union movement in he
/ United States may be said to have at
/ This time reached the highest measure
Iof success that has ever attended the
organization of workingmen. Every
mechanical craft has large, il not
the largest, proportion OF its members
enrolled in the movement Of organized
labor The prevailing activity in in
dustrial life secures to the mechanical
toilers steady employment, at a wage
scale in excess of any that has ever
prevailed before in the history of the
country, even though it be true that
/ the purchasing power of the prevailing
wage, owing to the trusts is not as
/ it is undeniable that the members Of
labor unions are in a better position
today 70 insist on their reasonable le-
mands than they have ever been be-
fore
II is under circumstances such as
these that a movement has been called
/ into existence looking to the amalgam-
alton of the union wortingmen of the
country into an Independent political
party. The central organization Of
union workingmen in Milwaukee, rs
the press reports show. has urged on
! the corresponding body in Greater New
York cooperation in snch movement
/ individual unions in Chicago, San
/ Francisco. Denver and elsewhere have
committed themselves to the same
policy.
1t is very short-sighted view of the
future of labor organization which
looks upon its chief opportunity AS
lying in the direction of party political
action. The industrial life of the
country is strewn with wrecks Of or
ganiZations established for the promo
j ton OF the social and economic bet
terment of their members. which left
the beaten path of legitimate endeavor
and committed themselves to political
action. The fate of the Farmers
Alliance Is the most instructive Of the
many examples of this kind that might
he mentioned. There is not a prom
jnent representative of labor that eyor
entered into active politics that was
not forced to do 50 at the cost of his
influence and standing in his organ-
zation.
The labor unions are playing a most
important part in American life at the
present moment Their avowed pur-
pose of urging the general adoption of
arbitration as medium Of promoting
industrial peace, if exercised within
its proper bounds. involves the rem
dering of an enduring public service .
So, too, as the medium of promoting
amicabIe periodical agreement Ea- |
tween employers and employees on the
terms Of employment, they discharge a .
function of great usefulness. When
those unions engage in politics the
days OF their existence are numbered.
Their usefulness VIII come to a sud
den end, and the labor organization .
VIII have degenerated into a mere
class politica movement something
which the history of this country
shows the American, people look on
with suspicion and contempt.
The unwelcome reception ,x,crd-
by the New York organizations tC IT,
proposal of the Milwaukee trades
may result in putting an on!
to the movement. 1t will be a good
thing for the American Federation If
Labor if that result follows. On the
other hand, if the movement makes
anything like general headway. the
Federation may be said 10 he~hasteo-
ing to the grave now occupied bv the
knights of Labor.