The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1910-02-11


to the Hoquiam session, | was much
interested in Brother Swensons refer
endum resolution concerning a United
Labor party, for as he truly said, at
is bound to do good, for it will make
every local discuss the best methods
of accomplishing those political re-
forms without which the labor classes
cannot exist"
Whether they like it or not the
wageworkers are "up against" political
propositions injunctions lead straight
to Jail doors; liability laws; frequent
pay day in cash vs.. "store pays" being
disqualified for jury duty because his
mules have died. short hours for women
in a thousand ways the wageworker
faces problems that can be solved only
at the ballot box.
This resolution asks each local to de-
eide whether this new activity that is
demanded of the wageworkers, and es-
pecially of the union man, shall be
through a league to control the pri-
mares of the existing parties or through
new party.
An illustration that everyone will
recognize as being both fair and apt is
the temperance work accomplished by
1) the Prohibition party, which makes
independent nominations, and ~, the
AntiSaloon league which works only
through the existing parties.
We may assume that Prohibition
party voters and Anti-Saloon league
voters are equally sincere; that neither
cares for party ties, but only seeks to
advance his cause.
SO far the parallel between the pro-
hibitionists and the wageworkers is ex-
act.
Some of the prohibitionists formed a
league to work through and coerce the
old parties; other prohibitionists drew
out and organized an Independent party.
This seems to be the exact situation
that confronts the trades -unionists in
Washington today.
The prohibition party east as many
votes twenty-five years ago as it did
last election; it has never accomplished
anything worthy of note; has elected
few officials; has neither enacted nor
enforced any laws.
The, Anti Saloon league, on the other
hand, has beaten the brewers back from
one defence to another; has secured the
enactment of laws; has controlld many
state elections, both north and south
Jay Gould once said, "When I am in
Republican district, I am a Republican;
when ! am in Democratic district, I
am Democrat-But I am always for
Erie"
This is the exact policy of the Anti
Saloon league.
1t is the policy of the tax reformers.
1t is the plan of the civil service re-
formers.
1t is the plan of every successful eff
fort for reform, save only the three or
four revolutionary periods; when new
parties were formed.
The trades -unionists have nearly 25
per cent of the vote cast in this state
The machine dominates the state with
less than 10 per cent of the vote,
Trades unionists must organize along
political lines This must be from the
membership up. 1t can never come from
the officers down The Majority Rule
league is an ideal method. Let an or
ganization be effected in every precinct
of every city Trades mionists win
naturally take the lead and be the con-
trolling factor; but every fair minded
voter should be urged to join. Adopt
your platform; formulate your de-
mands;; select your candidates, and
then force them as the nominees of the
dominant party,
If we wait for good men to propose
themselves We will have long wait.
We must bring them out; assure them
of the support of the league; pay their
expenses, and, if necessary, pay them
wages during the campaign As long
as we let the corporations do all the
financing we may expect corporation
officials. We must use the Republican
or Democratic party as indifferently as
carpenter uses saw or a hammer
just according to which is the better
tool for the moment.
A voter who hates a party is as big
a fool as is the voter who worships a
party.
Personally. It seems to me the best