Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1904-05-20
LABOR IN POLITICS.
Members of Unions Can DO What Tn
ions should Not Undertake..

Members of Unions Cnn DO What I'm
lon, Should Not Undertake.
In answer TO question from the
editor of the New York Journal Tie
following communications were rcceiv-
cd and published. with others:
The primary object OF a trade union
Ia to secure freedom of contract Inc
regaining of this power of control oyer
the sale of the time. skill and cudur-
ance Of the Wagcworllel Will b" one
of the greatest achievements of history.
Free government must be founded ON
the industrial and social freedom of all.
Political sovereignty and industrial
and social Scrvitudc are then impoSSi
BILE
Political sovereignty was iuau@UrIt"d
in this country at time when the
great body of people were indlIstrlaiIy
and socially free. AS the wage serving
class increased democracy diminished.
The first and most important work
for the wagcW orkcrs is the building up
Of the trade unions 10 the level Of pow
or necessary to secure for the wage
workers the full part of all OF the adj
vautaGcs OF Il higher civilization.
The introduction of partisan politics
Into the trade union means division OF
the union on party lines division
means destruction.
Capitalists are not partlSanS. The
great body Of bankers. brokers, specu-
lators, railroad kings and coal barons,
etc, who voted and bought votes for
the Republican president would gladly
vote and buy votes for the Democratic
candidate or any other man of his
kind Capitalists are Republicans in
one state and Democrats in another.
Those members of the trade unions
who are citizens are In duty bound to
carry the principles OF unionsm into
the exercise OF their sovereign rights
HIS citizens.
Keep politics, whether Republican,
Democratic or Socialistic out OF the
trade union and the trade unions viii
compel such political action az they de.
sire when they have the power Of or
ganiZation. just as the capitalists com
pei legislation in their interest where
they have the power SO to do George
H. McNeill
II by "goine iutu politirr' Is ucant
committing the entire membership OF
the organizations to the support OF c"r-
tain political principles and candidates,
then ] answer go to the query,
-4Should labor unions 90 into politics.
If the question We're, Should union
men Gerry their Industrial grievances
into politics HMd vote for the party and
cah,it:lfea whose records and pledges
showed the greatest Friendship for la
Dor? then | would answer YES
In other words. do not believe the
unions should 20 into politics, but do
believe that unionists should DO SO.
Unions are not organized as branches
OF political party. and the majority
has no more right to insist upon every
member subscribing TO certain political
doctrines than ii has to compel them to
adopt special religious creed. Re.
sides. such a course would make re-
cruiting new members for the union
that much more difficult.
On the other hand. intelligent union
men should recognize that through the
use Of the ballot lies the safest and sur
est road to Improvement of industrial
conditions. and every such man should
strive to bring his fellow unionists to
that rational view.
II In that way union can be tempo
rarily pledged by unanimous consent
to certain candidates. well and good,
but for ii union to declare itself in pol
tiles while there was one dissenting
member would be contrary to the poll
cy which has made unions successful.
may think that the union man who
votes with the party Of plutocraey is
doing the cause Of labor more harm,
than IL he turned scab or strike break
or. but SO long as he is loyal to his I'M
ion obligation which have no right
to alter over his protest. must Try tc
be charitable and charge his inconsist
ency to ignorance. One thing is GER
tainl cannot drive him into the right
way. and l may smash the union If
try that course with him Joseph Il
Buchanan.