The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-02-19
LABOR'S DUTY PLAIN.
Must Maintain Its Sovereignty
With the Ballot.
CRISIS GRAVE AND IMMINENT.

With tho Toilsr Rests the Response
biIity Of safeguarding His owr
Rights and Interssts--Labor's Friendl
Should 30 Supported at thu Polls.
The sovereignty OF labor must moi
be obscured or belittled. The great
humanitarian impulses of the new ma
tional life tend to protect and foster
the principle OF labor's sovereignty,
1t is unfortunate that there is leveled
against our humane movement the bit
terest antagonism. but being in 1t we
become a part of the great struggle
to overcome 1t and make the principles
underlying organized labor indivlsible
and indissoluble.
II Is this bitter and ignorant antag-
onlsm that forces opposition to organ
lied labor in the framework of our
laws. federal. state and municipal
Bot when we become unified on the
ell powerful sovereignty of labor and
amalgamate our forces wholly apart
from the doctrine Of separateness and
with single purpose in view we shall
lay the foundation for that decent re.
speo4 which is Inherent In all rational
minds touching labor's great and grave
crisis.
Notwithstanding sinister criticism
aimed at labor by vested interests and
their political Affiliations and inhu-
ences. the right and the duty Of organ
lied labor lie In alignment with those
humanitarian impulses wholly in sym.
patty with the toilers' wise and pru.
dent efforts which will sustain the
cause OF human liberty in any policy
which may be set forth respecting the
necessities OF all our activities, wheth.
er as workers or as citizens, as the
weapons to safeguard and promote the
rights and interests Of the workers, of
the great masses Of the people.
In view Of labor's broad, comprehen-
sive and humanitarian purposes we
must confess TO the peoples derellc.
ton Of duty when lawmakers having
to do with industrial issues and ques-
tons draft laws lnlmlcai to these safe.
guards-laws that when passed upon
by the supreme court, itself composed
OF minds in part or wholly unaware Of
labor's prime interests, are interpreted
aud ruled upon adversely to labor IN
less congressional relief shall come
backed by the peoples insistent de.
mand.
The issues confronting the new ma.
tional life are labor issues primarily
and fundamentally.
Organized labor cannot. II II would
shirk It's responsibility here.
The toilers should not be on the de
fensve with respect to vital issues at
fecting them. They should and must
devise an offensive movement looking
to firmer and more stable establish.
ment OF their inallenable rights.
Nothing is voluntarily contributed to
the interests Of labor on the part OF
the wealth possessors or of partisan
politicians.
II Is paradox second TO none IN the |
line OF human evolution and progress
that labor, the sovereign. should plead |
for safeguards at the hands of its own
creatures.
Congress and other lawmaking bod
les must he made 10 feel that labor IA
entitled to fits Just share In enactments
affecting its own rights
and interests.
Labor has little to expect at the
hands Of those Ia responsible charge OF
the last session OF congress
We have much to look for In poll.
cles outlined and sought to be carried
forward that have their initiative ID
the organized labor movement.
In improving the condition OF the
In securing for them their
rights, liberty and sovereignty, there
Is not involved the tearing down or the
destruction of any one or Of anything.
The labor movement and Its results
encompass the well being OF every
nan, woman and child the country
,ver. Organized labor is not destruc.
I've, but constructive.
1t devolyes upon organized labor by
agitation and education
o shape the next executive and the
lext congress to ends that will justify
he maximum efforts which may be
tut forth in behalf Of the great cause
II the rights OF the workers, which In
Is essence is the cause OF human lib
'rty.
We call upon the workers Of our
ommon country to stand faithfully by
ur friends, oppose and defeat cur enc.
MES, whether they be candidates for
resident, for congress or other offices !
whether executive, legislative or ju
Federationist.
a y