The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-08-22
LABOR In THE FRAY
ToILERs DETERmlNEDToMAKET THEIR
WISHES RESPECTED.

Trades Unionfsts to Wage the Ffshi
| For Justice and Fair Play at ths
Ballot Box-A show OF Teeth Likely
TO Produce Results.
4 Samuel Gompers, president Of Thu
Federation of Labor, has replied in the
August number Of the American Fed
erationist to criticisms Of the recen
announcement OF the federation tha'
1t is going earnestly into politics in be
half of labor. He questions the sin
cerity Of some Of the critics and says
We would suggest that they tell Iii
/ what they think OF the labor group II
the British house of commons and OF
the British labor in politics movement
What are the lessons OF that move
| ment? Does the British labor sltua
ton encourage or discourage political
action on the part of intelligent labor
conscious of its power and its needs
Come, gentle friends, give an honest
answer to these questions. Have you
| heard Of the trades union bill which
has passed the house OF commons
Have you heard Of any opposition to
it, X not, why not?
| Would the wOrkmen Of Great Britain
be as influential as they now are II
they had voted and elected Tories and
sham Liberals to the house of com.
mons?
| The objection to "class politics" and
'class legislation" Is plausible when
you do not stop to consider it AS a
matter of fact. IL Is devoid Of meaning.
Protectionists are not asked to vote
for free traders, gold men are not ex.
pected to work for men who believe in
control of rate making or In govern
ment ownership Of railways.
Government IS not pIatonic. 1t rep
resents dominant interests. It legis-
lates for ttese who are strong enough
to command respect for their wishes.
When the politicians fear the people,
they legislate after fashion--for the
people. When the public Is indifferent
special interests control legislation. for
they are always vigilant and tireless.
The record Of the first service Of the
present congress Ii full Of illustrations
Of these truths, II illustrations be
needed
What did organized labor get from
congress? 1t was interested In sew
eral bills. 1t argued, presented data,
attended hearings When the session
came to an end. what was the net re-
suit of this work? There was no re-
suit. The eight hour bill, the anti-in-
junction bin and other bills tending to
the protection OF the rights and lives OF
men, women and children had again
been juggled with. but none of them
passed. and there was no prospect OF
nny satisfactory action on any of them
at the next session.
The game is an old one The pres
ent congress is no worse than many OF
its predecessors. Organized labor is
weary Of these delays and false pre-
lenses. 1t is determined 10 make its
wishes respected, Its voice heard.
We are told that workmen should
vote with their respective parties as
Republicans or Democrats or Prohibit
tionists. or what noti But. pray, what
has labor secured from its affiliation
with and blind following of the po-
litical parties without at one time or
another manifesting determination
for change and relieff
For the toilers to occasionally show
their teeth is more effective than to
continually below their throats sore
over the old political party hacks who
are owned body. boots and breeches
by corporate power and predatory
wealth. The fact that senator or rep
resentatiye In congress calls himself a
Republican or Democrat does not give
him vested right In the workmen's
votes.
And since in adopting this course-at
least for this campaign organized Ia
Dor does what every other element Ia
the country is doing and has been do
ing since the first days OF the govern
ment, is it not folly as we'll as hypocrl.
sy TO affect pain and surprise at labor's
tactlcsl
There are some politicians and ed
itors who assure each other that what
ever labor ought to do IL will not carry
Its fight into politics. and no congress
man need, be uneasy over the threat
to hold him 10 account for his actions
or failure TO net.
This is mere prophecy, which we do
not care to consider We shall see
what we shall see. The American
workman is as intelligent as his Brit
ish brother and quite as earnest and
practical. Whether he means business
the politicians who have so long de-
celved him will find out in the course
of time.
In the meantime, men Of labor, be
up and doing.
Elect union men wherever you can
TO congress and state legislatures.
Stand by your friends your tried
end true friends-and by all means
Administer singing rebuke to
those who have been hostile or lndif-
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