The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01
NEWS OF TRADE UNIONS
POLITICS DOES NOT HELP ORGAN
lied LABOR MOVEMENT.
PartiSanship Causes Disruption of I'll A..
Union and spoiIs the Employers
Respect for IL.

Trades unionism and politics Is a cues
ton that is continually coming up in every
local labor organization in the country
There is a general disposition to put all
political movement in the union down. but
the political sentiment varies with locaIi-
ties. In the East. where the Socialists have
a following in small cities, politics, trades
unionism and socialism have become inter-
mingled until the fountainhead OF the
movement cannot be traced 10 any partic-
ular source In the West. particularly on
the Pacific coast. the political trades union
lists have swallowed up the Socialists. and
with few exceptions the West is the only
locality where pure and simple" trades
unionism has been carried into politics.
The trades unions in the middle States
have not been contaminated with politics
like in the East and West. for the reason
tnae any movement calculated to prosti-
tute the interest of the union to the cause
of politics has met with disapprovaI by
the members. In Chicago, perhaps, more
than any place else. have efforts been made
to mix the principles of unionism with pol
ftics, but as many times as this feature
Of the movement crept to light, just so
many times has it been overridden with
The principal argument advanced by
trades unionists in favor of making their
organization a political power is that it
will better the condition OF its members
The relative conditions Of trades unions
that have entered politics and those who
have not does not hold this assertion true.
In Massachusetts and Connecticut, where
the political trades uniOnism is more pro-
nOunced, statistics do not show that their
wage scales are above those OF unions in
~ At do
ports indicate that they work under better
conditions. On the contrary a comparison
East with those OF other localities, elm
mating New York city and Philadelphia,
shows that they are below the average
Oh the Western and Central unions, and
also that they work longer hours. The
East has more TO say about its movements,
but the West and Middle States seem to
do the work and enjoy greater benefits.
Whether the better condition of the labor
Ing men in the West and Middle States is
due to their lack OF activity in politics, can
not be said, but 1t is a fact that conditions
In the East do not warrant the assertion
that politics has bettered the trades union
movement, increased wages and shortened
hours A few instances may be cited in
small Eastern municipalities where condi-
lions may have been improved. but it is not
general and no aggregate average will prob
ably compare with the wage scales and
working condition of the men in the West
and Central States.
There are few skilled trades west of the
Allegheny mountains that work more than
eight hours day now, while those on the
east, excepting in the large cities, work
nine and ten hours a day In these large
cities where conditions are the best and on
parity with the West. trades unions have
taken no part in politics. Still another
feature that has characterized the political
movement Of labor unions is the broadening
OF the breach between employer and en-
ployed- 1t cannot be denied that the rela-
ton OF the workingmen and their employer
In the West is far more harmonious than in
the East This may not be credited TO the
fact that Western labOring men have kept
politics out of their organizations. but al
the same time it shows that politics has not
brought a closer relationship in the East.
Besides the financial benefit or DANA &c
done a result of injecting politics into
the union. there is another feature that has
usually proved a detriment, and that is in
tsrnal harmony A political union rep
IeSents partiSanS and no sooner does a
political movement start than an internal
strife is on between the two contendine
PARTIES and the principle of unionism is lost
IN the fight Central bodies have been more
subject to this evil than local unions. and
politics has been the cause of disruption OF
more than one Central Labor Union. With
jealousies aroused over political aspirations
members Of trades unions are not in a posi-
ton 70 look after their trades interest and
in the end. disruption generally comes or
the organization finds itself a weaklng and
not dignified body to command the respect
of the pODlOyerS