The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-06-13

- 5. - s. =
spch lssi.le ion spould s. denied but
sncss tnateushta HI 3 resosh.ssd
by lawsMa ksrs solemnly sworn to Leg
Sislate Tor the best interests q the,
smrare Resople en- right y fnsf
That Pilssideat R 4 sassf found It M
peratiYe to repeat idly send vigorous
and, seat thing Messages ,tq congress
thing to nttl cate the conditions sof the
wage earning classes 81 ss$s .s s3s$5
j. The I 9, in n t. not inselenGe
tive Appeals 81 th sea chef nnasistrate 81
our nation. was an insult to every true
and loyal scttixen @of our country.
sts plainly evident, and such II
Sherman anti-trust act, ares amended.
and laws enacted which will modify
s as ans assaG5 With
industrtal disputes, the trade unions
Will md themselves open and unpro-
tected. from the attacks OF: their OPP
ana the courts that their progress will
be- seriously inpeded and their very
existence threatened. ~ =, =.
~ Unless Mess the, right to 90, organise, and
by law, and unless the signing Of trade
agreements between employers ! and
trade unions Is given a legal sanction,
Industrial conditi Saof through orsaniza e
tion. IS placed in Jeopardy. = S
This should arouse our energies to
active: work In the political field. to
contentious shall represent us in con-
gress: It has become a by-word that
faithfulness to Speaker Cannon, and
hs hsh he of
nation. ,<~
Trade Unions and Party, Politics.
AS a result of the activities of the
anti-union associations OF employers:
lures, ards partieul lar " thro,fg hsss the
dectstons Of the supreme court Of the
United tsates. as have heretofore been
reached In the American trade union
.|'To successfully meet the present
tions. it is absolutely, essential that
the national and state legislation we
seek should be provided, and to secure
this workingmen,. must become more or
trade unions themselves must also lend
their influence. This fact is so gener-
ally known and accepted among or
ganized worknne en- that it requires no
argument or appeal to their tntellt-
gence for Its acceptance.
Before examining some of the vari-
Gus political. programs which are rec
| most faithful and conscientious Of
trade unionists, it is proper that there
should be q clear understanding of the
relationship which exists between the
individual members. and their organ
ization and the authority, If any,
which q. trade union may exercise over
its members in influencing their polit-
tcal action.
There are two tests which are ap-
piled to- q candidate seeking member
a man among men, and his ability to
| ana o bl himself to f be governed
| and to abide by the decision of the
| majority: acting in harmony with the
organisations CONSTITUTION, he is &C
copied into full membership.
During his examination as a candi-
| date the question of his religious and
political views were not touched upon,
ever upon his qualifications for men,
! bership. questions Of race, creed and
| party politics being excluded from the
tests Of Qualification. His religious
own, and he was as free to enjoy and
apply them after. his initiation, into a
! trade-union as he was before, and the
constitution Of his union further pro
| religious topics and partisan or party
! politics, would never be: discussed, or
f e subject for - action s. by his orsaniza-
THE majority of a trade union.
than a certain humber of hours per
| day; to prevent them from accepting
| to order strike, but the majority has
! neither the power nor the right to
indoIse OF approve Of any form m %. ot
religion: for It T. not 10. religious
the power or. authority by It's mem bers
! to Endorse or support any political
party, and every attempt to do so in
this country has not ee only resulted in
| the disruption of the union itself. In
| fact. one great factor In the upbuild-
ing Of the trade unions has been their
crat, Populist, Socialist and Independ-
ence Lacquer working in harmony to-
gether to Improve the industrial con-
With this brief outline Of the polit-
| zeal freedom guaranteed to each mem
Der by the trade union. and the recog;
aetfen RsSd
| quired at this tirne,'it will be well to
examine the suggestions which are
being made by. those who desire to
political factor. working in the right
One Step frequently suggested is
| the fOrmallOn OF q distinct LABOR
party, the adoption Of q labor plat
form, and the nomination Of labor
| candidates.. Another lis the endorse
ment Of one: Of the existing, political
parties and a. general effort to place
all. It's candidates" ID office and its poll
| cies. In operation. Neither of these
suggestions are. practical or possible
under the existing conditions, even
| though the leaders Of every national
trade union were TO unanimously en-
dorse one OF them. for the workman, OF
this country has always been free to
think and act for himself In the polit-
ical field; and this independents Of
lpolitical thought isafostered by the in
| stitutions Of our nation and as: pre-.
viously stated, guaranteed by the con-
stitution and principles of every trade
'.The formation OF an Independent
labor party would only result in still
/ strength. and tie enlargement Of an,
existing political party would engen:
! der the bitter opposition Of all those
who were not OF that political faith
4 Political parties are not formed by any
ones say SO. norsSS.d o they acquir,
strength and prestige because of some.
ones endorsement. r. -.}fs
ON the question Of political partie.
there exists g. wide difference of opin.
ion among the thoughtful and con