Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-03-24
LABOR IN POLITICS.
"a, Mitchell on the Working ma ms
Use of His Franchise,

Use of His Franchise.
1f the workingmen of the country
,ore properly organized at the present
me and were imbued with the abso-
,+e necessity of insisting upon wise
bor legislation, neither of the doni-
mt political parties could resist them,
bd wise legislation benefiting the tell.
IS would undoubtedly be enacted.
There is no doubt. in my mind that
10 purposes of the workingman can
be attained by the formation of
7 solid group of men united in their
hlitical aspirations and their political
mands. but not committed to the pol
of forming third party, than in
Y other way
ft takes q majority Of workingmen in
" district to elect their own repre-
natives, but It takes only a small
nority to insist upon the election of
nroper man by one or the other of
parties already constituted.
4 time goes on it is not improbable
1t labor Organizations will have in
based influence upon the government
our states and especially of our cit
Fhe day is past when government in
United States is considered the pre-
katiye of specially favored class.
e history of all nations shows that
class after another has been al
ted to the Suffrage and has been in
tied with a larger and larger share
the responsibility of government.
bp to the present time the working
n of this country through lack of
anization and therefore Of a cen
intelligent direction have been un-
e to secure as much real control or
tantage from the government of our
les as they should.
Vorkingmen have voted for one par
or another, according to habit, ira
on or personal friendship or for
he other reason not connected with
welfare of their class.
b the past it was always possible to
off one body of workingmen
inst another, just as in a strike the
unionists are pitted against the un.
sts
7ith the growth of organized labor
yever. it should be possible fol
bng trade unions and central FEEDER.
labor organizations to secure from
legislators of our cities the enact
bit of fair and reasonable laws bene
ii to Yorkingmen.
lch participation Of trade unions
lld be strictly limited to obtaining
Asures for the advantage of theil
IS and of the community in genera
should not degenerate into 9
mble for office on the part of indi
bal leaders.
be path of politics is strewn will
ruins of high enterprises and the
bones Of noble characters, and 8
IN once launched upon the perilous
of Office grabbing is sooner or lat
ound to lose it's hold upon the es
and allegiance Of it's members
to be finally shattered by the force
internal dissension.
accomplish political reforms more
Wecessary than mere machinery. The
n e unionists of the country must
~ re that little can be accomplished
Nolitical activities unless every mai
ik0s an interest.
AAe men must go to the polls anl
4 l would not desire to see anG
d strongly depreeate the slightest
(ulsion or the least exercise of un
pfluence upon the individual voter
ry unionist must retain the riGh
te absolutely according to the die
of his conscience and intelligence
though his vote be directly in op
on to the political inclinations
POLITICAL aspirations of the trade
world.
lie, however, every unionist should
perfect liberty to vote as he will
eade union ideas and the trade
programme, simple, precise an6
J, should be perfectly known te
unionist.
men should not only go to the
ries. Politics can only be re
by real interest on the part OF
mentioned members of the com
an who is now willing to go on q
onths' strike and make heroic