The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-04-28
DON'T GIVE
UPTHE GUN
Ballot Valuable Weapon That Can be
Used by Organized Labor Declares
A. D. Cridge IN Portland Labor Press.

In England the courts and parliament
jumped on organized labor. 1.-The beast
~ labor unions think they have a right
TO live, said John Bull. ..Drat their
hides! Hang 'em on the fence!''
The courts declared them illegal and
swiped their funds for damages done
with their boycots and strikes. The
British parliament was too busy to notice
them.
Then the unions went into politics.
They did not have to elect a majority,
only about five per cent of the members
were sufficient. The judges and their fool
decisions came down from the bench and
begged Organized Labor s pardon The
obnoxious acts and decisions went by the
board. No party could afford TO an
tagonize Organized Labor after it could
not be fooled. The Labor men demanded
old-age pensions Certainly, certainly.
The old parties had always wanted old
age pensions.
Labor demanded taxation of land val
ues. U-m-m! This was too much for the
landlords particular party; but it was
live or die for the Liberal party, and it
preferred to live.
Labor demanded the ending or mend
ing of that aggregation of boneheads
called the House of Lords. 1t looks as if
that pile of lumber will have to be cut
loose from the decks. 1t appears as if it
will be both mended and ended.
OF course, if Labor forgets or does not
Keep IN politics, it will not get its de-
hands; but at present the politicians in
England are as subservient to Labor as
their predecessors We're to kings. They
Suck their tongues out at Labor, and so
dl dthe kings-when their backs were
turned. In this country the politicians
hardly take the trouble to conceal their
contempt for Organized Labor A little
taffy about election time. Kicks, insults.
lnJunctions, judicial decisions, the rest
of the time
If Organized Labor will 90 into poli
tics and meet with 800 defeats in as
many Congressional Districts, and win
niteeh victories IN as many other dis
trlcts, what change will come over the
countenances of the corporation Judges.
corporation statesmen, corporation dis
trIet attorneys! Wow! Even the in
famous Wright, who can't stand to be
on the windward side of a labor leader
because he is appointed for life on
subordinate U. S. court-evcn such as
he will seek to migrate himself into the
good will of Organized Labor.
The Supreme Court would be promptlv
amended as fast the English Lords
are being amended Its power to SET
aside the will of the people, as have a
handful of British Lords, would be re-
stricted, or absolutely done away with.
The Taft injunction idea would be
PITCHED into its grave. The big trust
would speedily sell out to the government
or walk straight path The people
would be given the direct power to ex-
press their will on National matters. as
they have in Oregon on states matters
Inc ballot is weapon to be used on
the enemy If given to the enemy to
use Its owners may expect to be made
a slave You and /, Neighbor, have a
ballot IN our hands very frequently.
When we give it to the corporations and
to the politicians we give them part of
ourselves
Why should we be beggars of special
privileges with ballots in our hands? God
made the earth for its people.