United labor bulletin., 1912-03-07
POLITICS IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT.

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satisfaction 1t should be divorced from trade union
business. Delegates the Trades and Labor Assembly
have endeavored time and again to inject political
questions into the Assembly but the writer cannot
remember of that could be called successful
There are too many represented when there
should be but political for the benefit OF
labor.
In central labor council you have those who
adhere to the old political parties-Republican and
Democratic; those who have been converted to the
Socialist theory and those who support the reform
movements Beside these different factions, there are
those who shift about the interests that will offer
immediate reward for their support.
i Central labor bodies seldom to transact
trade union business and also discuss political ques
tons 1t takes an entire afternoon pass all the
trade union business that comes before the organza-
ton. When something of political Importance comes
before the central body for discussion it takes up so
much that important business is neglected. Many
of the members little about political subjects but
the central body to attend to business tor
the local union they represent and when political dis
arise that take up the time OF the central body
to the detriment of the more important trade union
business the delegates that the central trades
council attend to business for their organization
absent themselves in disgust and eventually become
indifferent what transpires in the assembly. The
Indifferent delegates having absened themselves, the
central body left entirely in the hands OF those who
desire to the organization for selfish interest
or advance themselves politically
This being true would it not be better to pass
legislative the central body and do the pol
itical maneuvering through organizations brought to-
gether outside of the central labor union. Take the
Socialist for instance He has his organization out
side of the central labor union, and he does less po
cal maneuvering in the central body than any of the
rest Then look the standpat adherent to the old
political parties They urries here and there
exploding wndbags make their masters the out
side believe they pumpkins in the labor move
ment-but they accomplish little that in the end that
Will make for political beterInent Then we have those
who naturally have leaning toward the reform move
ments but they are generally the least experienced and
are checmaed every by the od-party brigade
and the Socialist delegates.
While all this is going on trade union business SUI
ers Business is put over from meeting to meeting.
and finally it becomes too late give any attention
and the central body has lost its power for good, The
different local unions will give up hope OF getting any
assistance from the assembly and finally they decide
to go it alone Once started this such local
unions adopt a selfish interest. They pay no heed to
the appeals OF other local unions for assistance in time
OF strike do they give any attention to label aga
ton They merely look after the welfare OF the indi-
vidual local and let other organizations do what they
4 like.
i These are facts that cannot be overlooked. TAX
ing the situation as it is what is be done? Are
to procede this way indefinitely, shall be
made the wrong? The writer believes that
if certain delegates desire to work for political party
they should organize outside OF the central body If
such delegates are caused take this they
gain political recognition by honest effort and not by
passing something in the central labor body that Will
mot change the situation one whit gain single
vote for any candidate party.
i In Pueblo the assembly met certain days only
for political discussion and on other days for trade
union business. Much accomplished.
In Denver, in the past, trade unonists organized
separately from the central bodies and did things that
are talked about to the present day, and many men in
that movement today making political history in
Denver.
Why should this course not be pursued at the pres
ent time? Why should those who making
joke of the labor central bodies be forced to organize
their own political playthings to uggle when the
poratons pull the strings? This they will not do, for
they have following, and the very minute they are
shut off from making the central bodies their tool they
lose their prestige and will be forever dead.
But there are others. There are those who have
the courage organize; and if such made
with good intent those in the lead would have follow
ing that would surprise the od-me politicians and
set precedent that would mark the future of
the labor political movement Organized labor in Den
yer is ripe for political for the coming election
in the spring. and heed should be given to the cry for
action but let that be entirely divorced from
trade union business and by taking that trade
union business can be transacted and something can
be accomplished in political way.
l Let us not have the trade union movement in Den
yer disrupted, but let act in intelligent manner
for the good of all.
i 1t is said that at the meeting of the Trades
Assembly, Sunday the men reported to have been cen