Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-08-10
THE BALLOT OF LABOR
Movement to Make 1t Effective
at the Polls.
PLAN OF TRADES UNl0NlcTS,
typographical Unions of Indiana 70 Be
Organized For United Political Ac-
tion-A Suggestion That All Workers
Might Follow With Advantage.

Might Follow With Advantage.
Despite frequent discourage1nents
and the continual protesting of unpro-
gressive ana timid members there is q
strong sentiment among the trades IN
ionists Of the country in favor Of unit
ed political action. The further the
active unionist goes into the ever
broadening field Of labor legislation the
deeper becomes his conviction that the
labor giant should exert the power he
possesses at the polls and cease to pc
tition at the feet Of lawmakers who
neither respect nor fear him.
Typographical union, No. 1, of IN
dianapolis has set on foot a movement
which is intended to organize as a .po-
litical force the union printers Of the
state of Indiana. The following reso-
lutions were adopted by Il unanimous
vote at largely attended meeting of
the union:
Realizing that through the trades
union organizations the toilers of
America have acquired the few benefits
they now enjoy in the Industrial world,
and realizing also that through their
efforts laws have been enacted for the
uplifting Of humanity in general but
have not been and are not now being
enforced according to the intent ana
j. expectations Of those who were re-
sponsible for their enactment. and be-
cause of the unjust discrimination
against labor in the courts presided
over by judges who owe their positions
to a power that is sapping the life
blood of the republic, we declare that
labor must enter the field Of politics ii
it would retain that which it now en-
joys, keep pace with the progress of
the world and obtain those things
which are now being withheld and
which are rightfulIy the reward Of toll
1--WE are all responsible for condi-
tons. 1t is every mans duty to do
his best to improve them. Society is
no better than it's members. Unless
the whole mass is leayened with the
spirit Of honor it will sour with the
breath of decay. There must be q
common spirit pervading its members
or the gallantry of a few viii avail
but little To check the spread Of this
pollution it must be sought out at it's
source and its accumulation there pre-
vented. Idle, luxurious lives have at
all times been a fruitful source of cor
ruption; likewise inOrdinate, uncOntr0l-
led power has often lOOsened the reinS
Of license. Either is a menace, and
both are usually Joined. We have es-
tablished a condition of this kind by
the special favoritism of our laws that
surpasses TIE widest stretch Of fancy.
No fairy tale or Arabian Nights fc-
ton equals in it's eXaggeration the
facts in the everyday life Of the new
order of lords we are forming to dom
mate our destinieS.
"In view of these facts the president
is hereby instructed to appoint com
mittee of fire to be known as the 'po-
litical committee said committee i'm
mediately to organize and correspond
with the officers of local Typographical
unions throughout the state with q
view to organizing a state committee. "
The political committee has already
organized, prepared plans for carrying
out the wishes of the union and is 81
work getting the other unions in IN
diana into line.