The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1909-07-29
Mr.. Kaufman of the
Grange Explains Its
Workings.

spoke to IA small crowd of men in
Labor Temple last Sunday afternoon on
the subject of majority league rule
1t was unfortunate that larger number
was not present as we are sure that
those who were there went away with
something practical to think about. 1t
is beleieved however that seeds were
sown which will grow into compact
mOvment. Mr.. Kaufman i'm short
address outlined what has already been
attempted along the line of majority
rule organization, and told of plans for
the future. 1t is not possible to give
his address ve.batim, but we will give
the substance of his remarks
The movement first started among
the farmers of Whatcom county. They
had found from experience that there
were scarcely any law upon the status
books of the state which directly bene
fitted the farmers. They were privi
legged to cast their votes at election
time for this or that candidate and there
their participation in government end
ed. They were at the mercy of the
whims of officers elected. In the city
there were different organizations such
as commercial bodies, unions, civic clubs,
etc. which were able to WELD clubs over
the heads of officers, but the farmers,
who were scattered and practically
without organization, were not consid
ere factor in politics. They had
their grange it is true, but it had not
become force in politics because the
necessity for united political action was
something vague and shadowy. The
leaven of compact organization was
working however, and in the spring of
1908 Il mass meeting of farmers was
held in Everson to see what could be
done. 1t is probably that reforms that
would directly benefit the farming class
were uppermost in the minds but it was
seen that legislation benefitting the
wage workers was equally needed and
that the two classes must work to-
gether. About twenty reform meas
tlres were submitted to this meeting
and thoroughly discussed. All OF them
were needed, but many of them were
unpopular and it was decided that their
chances OF success would be greatly en-
hanced by adopting popular" meas
ures, or, in other words, those that were
wanted by the majority. About eight
measures were chosen as a platform for
the new organization. Steps were at
once taken to cooperate with the la
boring people in the city to the end
that each candidate for office in the
county might be asked to declare him
self for or against these measures. One
mistake was made j. e., there were two
distinct central committees. The con-
sequence cerain loss of energy and
time in getting together which handi-
capped the movement. However
strenuous campaign was carried on and
after the votes were counted it was
found that two-thirds of the candidates
that had received their endorsement had
been elected. 1t was suddenly brought
home to the politicians that here was
new force in the political arena which
must be reckoned with in all future
campaigns and they began to trim
their sails accordingly. There is now
no question affecting the voters OF
Whatcom county that the organized
farmers and wageworkers are not con
suited on and their views obtained.
Their work was done throughout the
campaign principally through the dom
inant party. The passage OF the direct
primary law made this logical and nee
essary The majority of the demo
Gratis and socialists of the county voted
the republican ticket that had been en-
dorsed by the organization. The part
of the program of the ma jority lea
que" which seems to require most eX-
planation to reform advocates who are
affiliated with other political parties is
that to be effective it must work
through the dominant political party.
Under a direct primary system party
name amounts to absolutely nothing;
it is the measures which That party
stands for Why not the democrat or
socialist party? In this state the ma
iority of the newspapers, professional
and business men are republican. The
ma aority of men in all parties believe
in reform and good government. Very
few newspapers have n desire to combat
good government, nor the temerity to
combat it il they had desire to doso
II seems to be the logical thing to do
to carry out needed reforms with the
machinery of the dominant party. We
would be democrats in Georgia and so.
cialists in Milwaukee,. The name of
party is nothing. the aim of party
is everything. II is following out the
plan Of least resistance by working for
popular reforms through popular par
ty. Ii accomplishes nothing to be con.
tent with registering a protest at each
election through a minority party, the
thing to do is to seize the reigns of the
dominant party and bend that party to
the will of the majority. Ii requires
but little thought TO discover that the