The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-02-23


It is refreshing to turn from the
superficalities, and dishon-
est Misrepresentation Of the average
'publicist" who deals with the ques-
ion Of organized labor as a political
force to a sober, thoughtful considera-
ton of the subject by high minded
thinker, one who, when he speaks, has
of great Importance to soy
and says 1t in a statesmanlike manner.
Such. a consideration will be found
In the timely and remarkable article
which Mr.. Richard Olney, attorney
general and later secretary of state in
Mr. Cleveland's second cabinet. has
written for the new periodical, The
Inter- Nation.
Mr.. Olney welcomes the advent of
labor into politics." He gives
his reasons at length for his position
on the question, and he gives them in
an impressive and remarkably candid
way. He boldly expresses the convic-
ton that "the best guarantee and the
strongest hope Of the continued ascen-
dancy of American political principles''
is In this day and generation to be
found In the deliberate decision Of Or
gained labor to act politically with
practical unanimity and without for
NAL organization as an independent or
new party under dlsinterested and
conservative leadership.
The grounds upon which this opin-
ion is based are trenchantly stated in
paragraph which we produce in full
Mr.. Olney writes:
THE pronounced trend Of current
events is at variance with those prin-
c1ples and adverse to those institu-
tons. It Is toward strong centralized
government; toward paternalism and
the increase Of governmental activi-
ties, both In number and extent; to-
ward charging the powers of the gen.
eral government at the expense OF
home rule and of government by the
states, toward putting the country or
a permanent war foot and convert
ing us from a pacific people to peo-
pie under arms; toward burdening us
with the inordinate taxation insepara-
BILE from great military ornaments
and toward the doctrine and ractice
of the doctrine that rights are not tc
be predicted either Of nations or In.
dividuals; that it is superior strength
alone which counts and is the true test
Of law and Of morality, and that the
stronger may work it's will with the
weaker whenever the interests Of the
stronger-which Is the stronger will
always deem coincident with those Of
mankind and civilization generally
shall so require. If these only too oh.
vlous tendencies are to be and SHOULD
be resisted, whence the resistance t,
come? Not from the capitalistic class
which is naturally in love with {
strong government, with a none,
spending government, and with gov
eminent which. in the cause Of goot
business, will stick at nothing tina
can be done with safety and profit
Not from the professional classes. so
called, whose members invariably dis
agree on such issues, even clergyme,
being found to approve of war as ,
healthy stimulant no people can b.
without. The one class-and the onl,
class-in community to be counte,
W. ~ oNAo oPPo1AOAAI VI LIlc per
| n1c1Ous tendencies in question is tn
wage earning GLASS;"
1t is true that Mr.. Olney writes from
| the standpoint of a Jeffersonian Demo
| crat Of the "old school," and that no
| all his ideas concerning "state rights,
federal power and jurisdiction and lik
questions are necessarily shared b
the rank and file Of thoughtful union
| lists. But while organized labor ma
| not be opposed to what the old Jeffer
son1an school regards as "paternalfsr
! and the increase of governmental &C
t1v1ty;' while it may believe that IN
| der conditions actually existing, con
troll and regulation Of the privilege
! classes In the interest Of the grea
mass is not only too dangerous to ulti
| mate freedom, but inevitable and de
sirable, 1t is certainly true that organ
lzed labor Is, and always has beer
unalterably opposed to militarism. t
the doctrine of brute force in govern
ment to international aggression. t
sham patriotism. to colonial adven
lures, despotism over inferior races
reckless patriotism, to colonial adven
| 'oA Co. uesPot1Sn over inferior races
reckless extravaganza in egovernmen,
and the whole spirit of plutocrac,
with it's corruption, commercialism O
everything it touches. it's rapacity an
knavery.
| Not only Is organized labor oppose
to all these evils. but 1t. is the onl
formidable force that can be counte
on to fight them. Take the experienc
OF nearly all our large and MANY O
our smaller cities, with their rascal
franchise grabbers and plunde1n
public service CD corporations. VIII
has been fighting perpetual franchise.
the use Of public property in a way t
give "swol1en' fortunes to a few buc
cancers at the expense Of the commu
nifty? The labor unions, and practt
cally they alone have carried and ar
carrying on the fight against plutocra
cy in this great field. Whenever Their
Is a question of true Democracy (no
IN a party sense) versus tyranny. an
plutocracy in any department of actfv
1ty, the friends Of true Democracy tur
to the labor unions.
Mr.. Olney mas been accused in car
1talistic newspapers Of idealizine labo
I