The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-17

In regard to the plan Of the Chicago
Federation Of Labor of organizing a
political party which shall have for it's
platform the initiative and referendum
and government ownership of public
utilities, local labor union men are
unanimous in the belief that labor will
have to go to the polls some day in
the future and vote one ticket en-
masse.
Louis Nash, an honorary member of
the American Federation of Labor, and
of the local Salesmen's union, has very
decided views on the subject. He said:
ct saw this thing coming years ago.
Labor will have to get together at the
polls some day. They will do it Of
their own accord, or will be forced by
the concentration Of wealth to do it.
1t is a case of evolution or revolution.
II hope the time will come when
man will be expelled from his trade
union for casting a 'scab' ballot, just
as readily as he is today for a refrac-
ton of other rules. With labor con-
trolling 80 per cent of the vote, is thdsre
any excuse for the laboring classes
having so few men in congress? The
laboring men know what the Amer
lean Federation of Labor stands for.
Labor Should Control.
eff the things contained in the reso-
lutions adopted at the annual conven-
tons are good enough to fight for be-
fore the convention, they are good
enought to fight for at the polls. Ten
years from now labor should control
Legislation along the lines of govern
ment ownership and the initiative and
referendum. Public ownership would
abolish tie coal strike in twenty-four
hours, as did the threat of 1t by Mr..
Gladstone in England a few years ago."
John F.. Krieger, district organizer
of the Federation of Labor, said:
sit is a good plan, and is bound to
be tried some time. In fact, think
it is only matter of time before
national party will be organized. Strt
just how it is to be done / don't know.
There are many obstacles in the way.
Politics and religion, you know, are
vigorously. kept out Of the discussions
of the trades unions. If they were not
the unions would hardly hold together
at all. e
'fBut it appeals to me that the Ia
boring men willthave to get together at
the polls some day. Combinations are
Fastening the time. We will be forced
to do something pretty soon."
Forced to Enter Politics.
Charles Butzenhart, president of the
Cigarmakers' union, said
Events seem to be pointing to such
a political organization of the workmen
Of America We have tried to keep
Of r,1i1 oti hJJt
it seems that we will have to get to-
gether in politics some time in the fu-
ture. 1t looks as if we would be forced
to do something OF the kind pretty
soon. I think, however, that the intro
duction of politics into the ranks Of
organized labor will be very gradual
and attended with many difficulties"
trades council, and an influential man
in the local labor world, says:
"The laboring men will have to get
together in politics, that is certain,
and I think they viii sooner or later.
This thing has been talked of before in
other places, and when President
Gompers heard of 1t he sent out no
tees saying that politics should be
kept entirely out of the discussions Of
the meetings Of labor unions, for, he
said, it meant death to the Federation
of Labor.
eve have tried the plan Of getting
candidates Of the old parties to prom
Use to support labor measures and
when the chance was given these men
after their election to vote for eight
hour measures, they did not do it, So
it seems to me that we will have to
get men fromtour own ranks to truth
fully represent us. We can get togeth-
er, and we will, some day."
Fred Miller. who is high In the coun-
ellis of labor, and an officer in the Gro
Ger clerks local union, has thought
good dealfof the plan, and heartily ia
vorS it. tg
Two Out of Three Favor.
"This thing Is bound to come. So
far as I have sounded the opinion of
men in the labor unions, two out of
three are in favor of the plan. These
trusts care no more for the laboring
man than what they can get out of him
in the way of labor, and if the Iaboring
men want any rights they will have to
demand and get them at the ballot box.
I rather think that Debs' scheme Of a
socialist labor party has something to
do with the plan of the Chicago feder-
alton of labor.
"This plan, think, Is inaugurated
to offset the influence Of Debs' party
in the ranks Of labor unions. But am
heartily in favor of our going into poll
tics as a third party and fighting for
rierJ1 tCb