The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1910-02-18
MAJORITY RULE LEAGUE OR
LABOR PARTY, WHICH?

An overwhelming majority OF the PEG
pie believe in popular government. They
will assent readily to the doctrine that
legislation should lie for the masses in
stead Of the classes, but they differ
widely as to the method by which this
desired end may be attained. In our
own state at the present time there are
three methods proposed by members OF
organized labor, which each wing be
lieves to be the political solution Of
labor's rights.
First, the Socialists. who stand for
political movement that will abolish the
profit system and give to every man the
full product of his toll.
Second, the Majority Rule advocates.
who believe in Selling control of the
dominant party and using it to secure
remedial legislation.
Third, the Labor Party men, who
want to cut away from old party lines
and put a straight out labor party in
the field to nominate and if possible
elect its own men.
The two latter proposed methods of
political action were brought prominent
ly before the delegates to the Hoquiam
convention Of the State Federation of
Labor AMI should be givn carful study
by all worllipruen.
W. H. Kaufman Of Bellingham, has
been foremost in exploiting the Ma
jority League Rule' plan and has writ
ten and spoken in defense OF the move
ment numerous times during the past
year. His theory in short Is that n
league should be formed in this state
with an organization in every voting
precinct to work through the dominant
party for measures that the league shall
by referendum vote decide to be the
ones they want enacted into law at the
next session of the legislature. Only
those candidates at the primary cleo
tion shall be endorsed by the league.
who will pledge themselves to vote for
the league measures. To make it GER
tain that there shall be candidates in
the field that are free from corporation
influence, the league proposes to bring
out their own men in different localities
and finance their campaign. Mr. Kauf-
man believes that the direct primary.
makes it possible for men of all po-
litical belief to unite on what remedial
legislation they want enacted and get it
through seizure Of the dominant party.
Those who believe in the formation
Of state labor party 10 not agree
with Mr.. Kaufman in his Majority
League idea. Tn another column Mr..
Swenson. Of Spokane. the author of the
resolution introduced at the Hoauiam
convention, calling for the formation
of a Labor Party. takes Issue with Mr..
Kaufman Mr. Swensou believes that
no real lasting benefit can come from
or through either of the old political
parties, as thew viii alwavs he r1qninu
lated by the interests through their
politicians and labor becomes nothing
more than a tail To the Kite Of the in
terests. He believes that the majority
of trade Hniouists are disousted with
the old parties and would welcome
STRAIGHT ont partv Of their own that
would stand strictly for labor on a labor
platform. He quotes the Success Of
the laboring people in Great Britain in
claiming the power of courts TO harm
them. through a straight out labor
party which sent forty of their own men
to Parliament.
Both of these propositions are backed
by men whose sincerity in the labor
can he questioned bv none. Tt
resolves itself into question as to-
which method is the better one-the
results aimed at are the same. Tt be-