The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-02-15
DRAWS OUT A REPLY.
Secretary Ironside Defends His Recent
Utterancel

Editor, Barre Daily Iimes-Dear Sir:
/ note in your issue Of the 18th inst.
that Bros. Jos. Mcdonald, John Mason
and others are decidedly of the opinion
that the statement expressed by me
that a man was a scab if he voted
against his fellow workmen" was against
the best interests of the labor cause and
would do great harm to the labor can
didates. Well, now, this is too bad, and
am indeed sorry that statement of
the plain, unyarnished truth is likely to
Offset any chances that the prospective
candidates might have Of being elected.
BE that as it may, however, Just wish
to say that there arc as many trade
unionists III this city who are Of the
same opinion as myself and who have
personally admitted to me that it was
better 10 show up this evil.
At the present time the important
thing to impress upon the mind of the
trades unionist is that it is his duty
to cultivate the habit Of doing his own
thinking The moment he realizes this
he is beyond the power Of the ward
heeler and the scheming politician, in or
out Of the labor movement. The trades
union is not and cannot become politi-
cal machine, nor can it be used for po-
litical purposes. They who insist upon
working class political action not only
have no intention to convert the trades
union into a political party, but they
would oppose any such attempt on the
part Of Others. The trades union is an
economic organization with certain eco
nomic functions TO perform, and as such
is a part, needful part, but part
only of the labor movement. IL has
its own field of activity, its own pro-
gfamme. and il its own master within
its economic limitations.
But the labor movement has also its
political side and the trade unionist
must be able to understand that the po-
litical side Of the movement must be
unionized as well as the economic side;
and that he is not in fact a union man
at all who, though member on the
economic side, Is a non.unionist on the
political; and while striking for, votes
against the workig class. The remark
by Bro. Mcdonald that "a man has a
right to vote for whom he pleased y
does not conyey the collective aspira-
tion and idea which even the pure and
simple trade mionists are supposed to
be impregnated with. He shows an en-
tirely individuaistic line Of thought,
which if generally carried into effect
would eliminate the trade union move
meut from the economc field, and would
build up system that would again
carry into effect the gospel of Adam
Smith, author of that world famous
book, "The Wealth of Nations who
declared "that men are by nature free
and equal; the law should not establish
artificial inequalities among them. What
men need in business is not protection,
but liberty"
"Under free competition each man
seeks his own interest, and in seeking
his own interest promotes. as a rule, tho
best interests Of society" | have vet
to learn that the trade union movement
of the United States believes in every
man for himself and the devil take the
hindmosb. For the benefit of Bro. Ma
son wish to say that did not exactly
have such gall as to voueh for the
whole Central Labor Union in that
letter. which seems to have fred up
some Of our seemingly interested friends.
Anyone who took the trouble to read
the letter could see at glance my
position therein.
Charlotte Perkins Stetson says;
we clSse our eyes and call it night,
\ And grope and fall in seas Of light.
Would be but underestimate
Alex'r Ironside.