The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-09-25

and q demand Tor Its aboIlt1Qn, 1T il
not only an organization and q move
ment with the highest possible ideals
of humanity and Justice and freedom
for all, but it is the only movement
on the face Of the globe which con-
tains these ele1nehts,S with this fun
damental addition-that 1T achieves
something for the working people
now. :
The trade union movement has no
quarrel with those who would lead our
minds and our thoughts into the
realms of the dim, distant future, and
some who would have us agree to the
dictum that we are placed-in this
position in life by the divine will. and
that it will be better and more beauti-
full in the sweet by-and-by. For my
own sake, I don't want to surrender
one jot or title Of the hope for the
sweet by-and-by. but I want for my
fellow workers and my fellow men a
better condition here and now,
The labor movement is variously in
terpreted. Some say that it is revolu-
tionary. If that be So, it is a. mere
matter of Interpretation or UNDER
standing of what is really meant by
revolution. I, think the better inter-
probation of the labor movement is
that it is normal, natural and ration
ally evolutionary, growing day by day
and year by year, until the very ele-
ment with which the labor movement
makes up its work shall find lodg-
ment in the heart and the mind Of
every one who works at an honorable
occupation and who needs the ebnefit
of associated effort.
Woman Suffrage.
I approach this question of woman
suffrage more from the practical than
from the sentimental side. To me it is
a matter Of common justice. have
seen written and printed the state
ments of those who are opposed to
woman suffrage. do not care what
grounds they give, + hold that any
proposition that denies to all the hu-
man beings of this country of given
age equal rights and equal opportun-
tiles, is unjust.
TO. say that 50 many women have
no interest and have no understanding
Of the value of the vote is not an OBJ
lection. If that, is a great objection,
I can point to. millions Of our men
who are not interested in politics. T
aim sure that, man for man, the res
idents of the city Of Washington, the
capital of our opuptry, are as INTEL
ligent as any other men in any other
city of the union, and yet for more
than forty years they have not had a
vote, and when the offices of the
American Federation of Labor were
located in Washington, by vote Of the
convention, following out my own
thought. that in the capital of our
nation there ought. to be some degree
Of citizenship, addressed a circular
letter to perhaps three hundred Of the
most active, best known citizens in
that city, asking them their Views
upon the question Of suffrage for men.
I asked some who were known to be
opposed to 1t for their grounds for
that opposition. T. received two
answers!
Under the auspices of the American
Federation OF Labor called a mass
meeting with a capital NJ, at Dad
Fellows hall; with seating capacity
Of $500" or 5000. I had men Of
prominence and myself advertised as
speakers for suffrage for the men of
Washington, and I had the pleasure
of having about II Washingtonians at
that meeting! 49,:
The fact of the matter is that the
Intelligent men of Washington, men
Of f1fty-f1ve and sixty years, have