The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-20
THE MINERS AND THE SOCIALIST
MOVEMENT

As an attempt may be made to commit
the United Miners convention to the Social
ist movement il may be well for the con-
vention to be forewarned. The objects of the
movement are TO get control of the ma
chinery of government and by legislation
put their scheme of public ownership into
operation at once. Their platform for 1902
demanded:
%. The public ownership of all means
of transportation and communication and
all other public utilities, as well as all in
dustries controlled by mOnOpOlies, trusts
and combines the revenue from such in
dustries to be applied to the increase OF
wages and shortening the hours of labor
and TO the Improvement Of the service and
diminishing the rates TO consumers; 90,
the progressive reduction of the hours OF
labor and the increase of wages; C3), State
or national insurance OF working people
In case Of accidents, lack Of employment
sickness and want in old age, the funds
for this purpose to be furnished by the gov
eminent, and to be administered under the
control of the working class; (D, the IN
auguration of a system of public indus
tries, public credit being used for that pur-
pose; 90. the education Of all children up
20 the age of eighteen years, and State and
municipal aid for books, clothing and food I;
co., equal civil and political rights for men
and women; %, the initiative and referen-
dunn. proportional representation. and the
These are the doctrines of socialism as
promulgated by the Social Democratic
party, which is the only Socialist party in
this country having any strength to speak
of. In the presidential election of 1900 this
party polled 97.730 votes for Eugene V.
Debbs for President. and in 1902 it polled
231 900 votes in State elections In 1903 the
American Federation of Labor defeated a
resolution to organize the labor unions into
a Socialist party by vote of 4ss5 to 4.203.
The objects and aims of the Socialists
contain some germs of good. but they are
opposed to the genius of American insti-
tutions and go much too far in the direc-
ton of government control of both capital
and labor. The adoption Of their programme
by the labor unions would plunge the latter
into politics, make them mere political
machine and probably be their ruin. The
most intelligent and conservative labor
leaders of the country. including John
Mitchell and Samuel Gompers, are OPP
posed to the movement. In am address de-
| livered at the close of the miners conven-
ton in this city a year ago, President
Mitchell said:
l do not believe in the heresies that peo-
| pie trying to inject into the trades
union movement. / believe that in this
country there Is an evolutionary movement
In our industrial affairs. The trades union
movement is revolutionizing the affairs OF
the union. We are gradually drifting to a
better condition, but we cannot advance
! that movement by passing resolutions. II
cannot be helped nor retarded. L want to
see the mine workers keep away from such
movements. / don't want this organization
to chase after false gods nor pursue rain
bows. Stick TO the trodden paths of con-
servatism and steer clear of the rocks on
| which the wrecks of other labor organiza-
| tons are found.
Read between the lines this was warn
| ing to the miners not to run off after the
| false lights of socialism. If it shows it's
| head in this convention, the miners should
| hit IL, good and hard.