The San Francisco call., 1904-11-13

gthsf, iHat fhe one which falls ia that
hHieH - ifisa, While the one that sue
efsas b iqaf Yhieh still remains
ihs8fg Presumably, the underlying
eaHsa ~ ihis is fhat ia practice even
the besi i-iHtsHtisHag government -
fefssd 80 abandon much of lis theory.
There sesms ~ bs q good deal Of Wis
aem 10 lhe observation that political
parties usually bseiB their existence
as organizations 10 protest against
great evils ~ some Kind. and as fire.
ausntiy degenerate Into organizations
for procuring efles. 9f for saving men
the trouble % think for themselves"
Discerning readers Of this paper should
find little dlnleuity In making their
own application ~ that moral
Unlike the trade unionist. the politi-
cal theoriHt n not bound by any ply
sical or intellectual limitations; he
need concern himself only with the
capacity OF the human Imagination.
The theorist may plan an engineering
feat which denes all the difficulties OF
mechanics-on paper. but the ques-
tion arises. VIII tho thing "go"2
Similarly, the theorist may paint n
4iO0SC WHICH - CAiAAntAAlg ntAAlnAAht'ty
on canvas. The only trouble with
that kind OF house is that you can't
live in it; you can only look at il. The
political theorists scheme of regenera-
ton is beautiful TO look upon. a veri-
table masterpiece of impressionisuc
art; but-alas; those doubts-the ques-
tion recurs, Will it go?
OF course. opposition to the plan Of
political action by the tr de unions, as
such, does not of necessity imply any
objection to political action on the
part of the working class, as such.
On the latter score opinions differ
first upon the class issue: secondly
upon the manner and extent OF gov
ernmental regulation in economic af-
fairs. Upon the former of these Ques-
tions the best opinion seems to be that
which is expressed by the saying:
The working class is the only class
that is not a class; 1t is a nation" on
the latter point there is room for argu-
ment between those who favor the
respective principles Of government.
the paternalistic and the democratic.
However. there can be no doubt as 10
which of these principles best repre-
sents the American ideal. The pOliti-
cal actiOnist in the American labor
movement is quite consistent in citing
the European workers as an exemplar.
just as the latter, IN demanding gov
ernmental intervention in their indus
trial and domestic affairs. are con-
sistent with the principles and prac-
tices Of European government. And,
precisely because OF this consistency
between political action and paternal-
ism. the opponent Of polite. action
in the American labor movement is
consistent with the principles and
practices OF American government, as
expressed by the maxim. That gov
eminent is best which governs least"
Doubtless there are many ways in
which the methods Of our Government
might be corrected and its functions
extended with advantage to all the
people.
Possibly these ends can only be at
tained by some sort Of readjustment
between the political parties. But
these are questions which only politi-
cal organizations are capable OF deal
ing with. To attempt TO deal with
these questions in the trade union
would be 10 destroy its usefulness in
the economic field without insuring any
compensating gain in the political field.
AAAS POAAN nOA-4 DC d AE4dDAE III =
state Of complete trade union organi-
zation as IL is in the present state OF
partial organization, since distrust and
oissension seem to be inseparable from
any form Of political enterprise, as a
glance at the state OF labor or reform
politics in any part Of the world viii
Immediately attest.
It is true to-day, and IL probably al
ways viii be true, that the power OF the
workers 10 protect and advance their
welfare resides primarily and ultimate
~ in economic organization To that
power the workers Of the world owe
all that they now possess, not only in
material comforts, but also in moral
elevation and spiritual hope; not only
in the immediate terms OF employment.
but also in innumerable legislative
measures.
II Is begging the question 10 say that
the trade union depends entirely upon
the strike and boycott TO attain its
ends Again, 1t is begging the question
to say that the strike and the BOYCOTT
are failures to-day, or ever have been
These measures are the last resort OF
trade u-ionism, the only remaining
measures OF protest when reason and
justice fail. Regarded as such. the
strike and boycott never fail. although
always TO be deplored- The real vic
tories OF trade unionism are won by
the force-the moral force-of organiza-
ton, with its corOllaries of discussion.
conciliation and arbitration And lust
as the trade unionlst enlarges his
knowledge Of his own affairs and in
creases his ability 10 manage these. so
he increases his capacity and power in
the treatment Of public affairs.
Trade unionism has its faults OF
course, but these are very largely the
faults Of numbers. not OF principles or
methods We are not numerous enough
that's the trouble. How to increase
our numbers, that's the ever-present
problem 1t is a problem that can onlv
be solved by adherence to first princf-
pies. l. E., religious organization for re-