Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-10-19
SPECIAL LEGISLATION.

S66OtAI IEubSk6lIONs
That moderation and fairness are
growing qualities among the labor
unions is sufficiently evidenced in the
tone of the speeches at the Civic Fed
Grafton banquet in Chicago. There was
small suggestion OF sympathetic
strikes. riot and brute force in the re-
marks of the prominent unionists who
addressed the gathering. Among ali
the expressions of good will and en-
measures given voice by the union
leaders there was, however, no note Of
retreat from the settled demand for the
elosed shop and the domination OF the
held of labor by organ.za lions. While
all such meetings as the civic banquet
breed hope of ultimate Industrial peace;
}here was no signal OF the surrender
upon any important proposition dis
played by union leaders who spoke
no peace articles signed between the
unions and the employers which fail to
thoroughly recognize the unions as
Unions. Gompers and Mitchell made
hat plain. The union movement has
lest none of Its virility or effectiveness
under the new leaders who decry brute
force and riot and uphold the moro
peaceful methods of compuision and
The ballot box. Ths fight is not over.
i is simply to be transferred to an
,ther field.
There is a grave danger ahead in the
obvious tendency of most organizations
II commercial nature to enter the
political field. There are too many de-
nands for special legislation based up
on the desires of certain classes more
srocers. druggists. farmers and liquor
,ellers' organizations ask the legislator
What will you do for us?" and each
question carries the implication of .
threat. Now union labor enters the
held with its list of queries and their |
implied penalty. Organization for the |
purpose OF securing legislation Is a
common motive OF associations.
Certainly organized labor has the
lame right to demand and receive I
pledges or withhold its votes upon de-
Nal as have other associated classes. |
That Its numbers make the danger of I
Buch course more apparent and In I
listent is the only difference. It has
rs much right to special legislation as
The grocers or druggists or any other
slass. The danger lies in making a
lobby for every special interest and
forgetting the public as whole. The
tendency seems to be toward convert
Ing state and national legislatures into
grab bag whence each particular
class may snatch its special need or
desire without consideration OF the
general public.
There is more to be considered than
special privileges for special classes. Nc
uouUl ally Which, Stti iIluS~
ter showing OF ballots will have little
difficulty in finding candidates to
pledge themselves to all sorts of quasi
reforms. There will always be found
candidates ready to subordinate public
welfare TO private ends and to make
their pledge and performance part OF
the price of office For special interests
to buy these demagogues with votes Is
as dangerous to the public welfare and
good government as to buy them with
money. 1t Is corruption pure and SIM
pie and certain to result in disaster II
the workers, grocers, druggists, saloon
lists ct id omne genus, are to make po-
litical Hobbies of their organizations
there is certain to ensue legislation OF
en- homogeneous If not criminal charae-
ter. What Is needed is fair laws for al,
the people. not special privileges for
any class. With all these demands Of
the classes. where are the masses 20
"get off at?'