The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-06-09

andIaborer
THESE TWO CLASSES MUST UNITE
ON THE POLITICAL FIELD FOR
USTICE-THERE is NO ALTERNA-
TIVE.
By Hon. Chas. E. Cline.


Just think of it. A certain prominent
man, within the past few weeks told
me, and said it as though there could be
no controversy over it, that there is
nothing that the farmer has in common
with the laborer. chat their interests
were unlike, if not antagonistic."
Strange, isn't it, that in this year of
grace and coronations there should be
such Grass ignorance among those who
consider themselves the born leaders OF
men-the American CORDS Amounted
Both the farmer and the laborcr have
become class conscious; both know that
their interests are very largely similar
and must be fought for and retained by
a combination or union of both. Both
know that even where their interests
seem to clash that there is really no
antipathy between them.
1t has become automatic among stu
dents that it is only when one of the
producing classes wishes to take dis
honest or for that matter any sort of
advantage over the other that any clash
ing of interests can possibly arise.
| take it that the demands of men in
all the producing classes may be fairly
divided into three kinds, all inter-related,
however. and that fair name for these
demands might be
Economic; Ethical and Recreational.
Surely in the economic field there can
be no reason for lack of unity. The
right to an abundance of proper food,
of sufficient clothing and of comfortable
homes for all mankind, will be most GER
tainly conceded. The right of the lab
orer skilled and common, and the farmer
rs we'll to all these is generally ad-
mitted.
The ethical demands-th right of all
men to the fullest possible education,
both of body and mind mans right in
this Age of the Machine, to take the
greatest possible rest time for the great
est mental development possible; the
best literature, music, oratory and art
generally is now admitted, almost with
out argument Again, the desire for
recreation as the result of a proper and
wholesome need of the human race is,
may say, acknowledged universally.
Where then can there be a difference
between the demands of the farmer and
the laborer? There is, in very fact,
none. On the other hand, if we admit
that both classes demand the same things
then there should be the very closest
unity.
WHY then this talk of a division of
interests? The answer is easy. 1t is
but one of the many plans those have
advanced from the beginning who would
live from the results of the others toll.
1t is but one of the many plans OF those
who have always assumed that in some
manner they have been invested with
the right to rule and the right to rule
cannot long be maintained when men,
in the language of Sir Edward Jones,
LEVEN- VERETT
: ''Know their right, and knowing dare
maintain,
Resent the long aimed blow and crush
the tyrant while they rend the
chain"
The farmer constantly finds himself
in need of certain legislation. The labor
err also knows that he, too, must wrest'
in some manner from legislatures his
rights-economic ethical and recreation
al too long dormant, or new ones which
the newer days have brought forth
These two classes must unite ON the po-
litical field for justice. There Is no
alternative. No matter what the indl-
yidual may think while the present in
dustrial system lasts these two classes
must every year become closer and clos
cr knit together until time shall have
fulfilled the dream Of Tennyson, the
Federation of the World and the Broth