The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-11-03
The Trade Unionist and His Politics

(BY EUG UNSWORTH)

A democracy has been defined as
the government of the whole people
by the whole people equally repre-
scented, and although 1T is frequently
asserted that we are the most demo-
cratic nation in the world, the deca-
dence Of our modern political system
under the influence Of combination of
capital justifies us in asertig that we
are very far from approaching our
democratic ideal.
1t must be apparent to the intelli-
gence of the most optimistically in
clined defender Of the present political
situation that corporate wealth Is fast
gaining the upper hand of the people
and slowly but surely converting this
country from democracy to plutocracy
from a nation governed by the whole
people to q nation governed by few
mercenary individuals.
The man with The muck rake Is tell
ing the story of labor's betrayal by Its
representatives In governmental al
fairs and the political and social un-
rest which is spreading to every city
in the United States Indicates that the
people are cognizant Of the dangers
that confront them, and are preparing
to retire to private life those indlVld-
uals whose political careers, IT not
checked, will eventually convert this
republic into a privately owned instl-
tuition.
The issues before the country TO-
day are largely economic. We have
before US two contending forces, each
struggling for supremacy-the despot1sm
Of capital and the organization OF
labor; the first advocating the aD1ec'
servitude of the masses, the second
freedom of thought, will and action
along lines that tend to the political
and economic freedom of all the people
Society depends upon its sound and
healthy growth on the freedom with
which its individual members cooper
ate Under our present complex indus
trial system an individual without the
assistance OF his fellow man can &C
complish but very little. The private
ownership and monopoly render CO.
operation impossible. It can, then, be
readily observed that our large com
binations Of capital which control ouI
government are menace and a barrier
to the full, free and proper develop
ment Of our social organism. 1t must
be apparent to the most superficial OBJ
server that the majority of our men 1r
public life who constitute the law
makers Of this nation are not only In
competent to grasp the gigantic indus
trial problems Of the period, but have
proven themselves to be the plant tool:
Of our privately owned monopol1es
The removal of these mon from public
office Is duty devolving upon the
wage earners of this country, and there
Is therefore no question of greater i'm
portance to the masses than the one
which relates to the proper disposition
Of their ballot, for upon its wise ant
judicious use depends the satisfactor!
solution of our intricate social prob
lem and the perpetuation of our re-
publican form of government.
The remarkable growth of: the trade
union movement has been the wonder
Of this and the preceding century,
and it's success in ameliorating thu
conditions of the masses has been
conceded by the student and observer
of social affairs. To check its. growth
and anihilate It, to render it inopera
tive, has been the ardent dream of {
certain section of the employing class
whose hypocritical cant about the per