The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-04-18
LABOR SHOULD
GO TO CONGRESS
CHICAGO AMERICANS EDITORIAL
"WHY W0RkINGMEN SHOULD
De IN CONGRESS-"
FIGHT FOR MEMS RIGHTS
What kier Hardy is Doing in ParIia-
ment-EnglisE1 Workers Wolf Re-
presented In Law Making Bodies
America Has None.

A great majority Of all the citizens
Of the United States are actual work.
Ing men and women. Yet, in the Con-
gress Of the United States, which leg
islates for all the people, to what ex-
tent are these enormous working cfas-
ses actually represented? Practically
not at all.
There are, of course, in Congress
many men who have at heart the in
terests of the working classes. And
there are many there who owe their
election and their political strength to
the support Of working voters.
But there should be In Congress ac-
tual experts on labor matters, con-
stantly looking after labor interests,
in addition to their Congressional du-
ties. To this matter we earnestly call
the attention Of workingmen them
selves, and Of those who, as heads Of
labor organizations, have been chosen
to represent their interests in their
own representative bodies.
All Of the great business interests
and manufacturing interests are repre-
sented in Congress by expert overseers.
There are men in Congress to look af-
ter the interests of the WOODEN manu-
facturers, men constantly on the look
out for any legislation, however clever
ly disguised, that may attack the ship
ping interests, the Sugar Trust, or any
Of the great ce pitalistic, industrial or
ganiZatiOnS Of the country.
But where are the men alert every
day as the laws are brought up, read
ing between the lines for attacks on
the rights Of labor, or ready in debate
to present the side Of labor unions and
Of the entire working classes gener-
ally.
We call the attention Of the intelli-
gent labor leaders to a recent debate
ir: the British House Of Commons when
Mr.. Chamberlain returned from South
Africa, as reported verbatim in the
London Times.
The discussion turned upon. the
raat111enta Of th the NegEoe Inst he Irans-
vaal, and Of certain Kinds of per capi-c
ia taxation actually compelling the
negroes to work in the mines and vir-
tually enforcing negro slavery on be-
half Of the gold mine owners.
The Tory friends of the gold miners,
and their Liberal friends as we'll, pooh
poohed the idea Of any attempt to
coerce the blacks into cheap labor, and
especially Of any discrimination against
whites. The Honorable Mr.. Peel
thought that he settled the matter
when he said that it was impossible
to get the right kind Of white labor to
work in the mines of the Transvaal.
The other distinguished gentlemen
agreed on this but as it happens Mr..
Keir Hardie, an actual workingman
and a powerful labor leader, sits as a
Member in the British House Of Com
mons. He sits there to listen to all
discussions affecting labor, and Incl
dentally to cross-question the honor
able gentlemen with their various
schemes for promoting finance at the
expense of humanity. When Mr.. Peel
had solemnly announced that the right
kind Of white labor could not be got
to work in the mines of the Transvaal
Mr.. Keir Hardie rose and said:
AT a recent meeting Of the Gold
Trust in London (meaning by the Gold
Trust the tinanciers who control the
gold mines Of the TransvaaD the chair
man explained that they would not
employ white labor from this country
in the mines because, first, it cost toe
much; second, it would bring the tria'
Of the trade union serpent into the
Transvaal; third, hundred Thousand
Englishmen domiciled in the Transvaa
would hold the government of tht
country in the hollow of their hand"
This very concise bombshell, coming
from a labor union Member of Parlia.
ment, impressed the honorable financia
gentlemen, as you may imagine.
pointed OUT quoting from the mouth
of the mine owners, the fact that hatret
Of trades unionisn1, and consequent,
Of the entire body of organized British
workingmen. underlies the capitalisti
govern:~",'t # the Transvaal, and con
sequcrt'::- t""t South African govern
ment. ~ Cold Trust, does not pro
pose 'ite worlzingmen t
guve,; g. ''>>* PIT it. hold tn
Cover, i - hollow of thei
hand"
The 2,n'.H.:,n;'. anil right honorabl
gentlcrr: presenting the Gold Trus
spent q i~::r time trying TO explai
away Nj. cir Hardies brief state
ment, an, they failed to explain
away.
a-.,lorg the labor leaders of tn
United MATES are men as able as MI
Keir Ha die, and far ADLER. These me
should >ht in Congress. Every bi
should be scrutinized by some one G
them. Such man as Samuel Gomper:
for instance, better informed on labo
matters and labor interests than an
member of Congress, should be read!
as was Keir Hardie on this occasio,
to tell the members of Congress wha
the working voting people think {
laws proposed. And he should be ther
also to tell the constituents Of tn
Congressman later on what those Con
gressmen do when the interests {
labor are at stake, a%%$.,., =
This isznewspaper suggests to. laborin
men that they prevail upon the ables