The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-07-09
THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE.

THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE.
I'm nearly all political campaigns
ere is usually one question which
ems to transcend all Of the others in
portance, and is therefore regarded
the paramount ISSUE It is per-
ps we'll that this should be SO, as it
a Well-knoWn fact that it is almost
possible to do more than one thing
III at a time. The apostle of old
id: One thing I do, I press for
lrd toward the mark for the price,
;. This philosophy will apply, with
it's force, to the labor movement In
rtiCular. There are many things to
accomplished, but many organiza-
fRns undertake to accomplish too
,lch at one time. If an opportune
,velncut We're selected and all of the
wcr of the movement concentrated
securing one particular thing, what
G now recorded as partial failures
least, would in all probability, re-
1t in complete and practical success.
lie process of securing justice for the
m, and the various steps which mark
rmanent progress can only be made
lis is not to say that the labor Or
nlzations should not be aggressive,
1T, on the contrary, that they should
all times thoroughly awake to their
'ssibilties and avail themselves Of
cry exigency that may arise. At this
lrticular time it is probable that few
liCns can, with safety, make any ma
rial advance, and the best policy is,
,doubtedly, to keep all Of the lines
osely drown and be prepared to re-
st invasion of any kind. The bust
sss of the country is not Of such
rye volume as that of one year ago,
I'd the palitical campaign will per-
Fps have II somewhat depressing ef-
ct, so that if the organizations can
maintained in good shape for an
her twelve month, it will be all that
g can reasonably expect. The para
cunt issue then would seem to be,
Ia;ntein Unionisn1." 1890
How to best do this is the problem
rhich not only now, but at all times,
'nfronts us. Some of the sages in
IL movement have said to do it with
1t Parry or party" This is a subject
lat often gives rise to much discus
on and difference of opinion, but,
ter all has been said and done, the
rct remains, that we at least cannot
} 1t with Il party, with but two mil
ms of the fifteen millions Of the
zen if we could get them all to think
ike on that particular question:. We
we got strength enough to punish our
,lemies when they stand for re-elec-
on, and if we do not improve the
nance when the time comes, instead of
!asing off after things which are i'm
,ssible, for the present ut least, we will
losing golden opportunity to show
lat kind of people that we intend to
maintain unionism.'' Let the men,
,rs OF congress, and the city, county
nd state legislators understand that.
0 matter to what party they may be-
ing, that, when they give organized
Dor dig, that they are putting the
novel into their own political grave.
he committees in congress who had
le labor bills under consideration. at
lie session recently closed, told the
representatives. of the American Fed
cation of Labor that there is no stone
| our club There are members
nough of organized labor in nearly
very congressional district in the
nited States to constitute the balance
{ power in any election. We should
arrow party to the winds, and vote for
ur best friend, even though it may
a choice between two evils. Let us
how them for once that there is "a
tone in our club" In the excitement
hat is likely to follow during the next
ew months, never lose sight of the
act, that to 'maintain unionisrn" is
he paramount ISSUE"