The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-08-26
LABOR UNIONS URGED j.
TO PLAY THE GAME


We hear much from interested par
ties in regard to labor unions using
their influence in politics.. To a eer-
tain extent and in part we believe this
adverse criticism is just, at least we
do not believe in any organization at
tempting to swing it's vote In any Ger
tain direction.
We do, however, believe In the. pub
lication OF all truths concerning all
aspirants to any office, through the
labor press or labor channels; in order
that uflionists may pass upon the rec
ord. of said aspirants, and thus vote
intelligently and FOR the best interests
of labor as a whole. This statement
seems simple: It is, but the subject
it deals with is complex, intricate,
varied and truthful facts wherewith
the unionist may form his opinions are
evasive~ to an extreme.
We believe organized labor can &C
complish more along Individual lines
than along party lines. Agitation on
party lines as a rule means troll
BILE with the ranks The difficulty of
adopting either of the present lead
ing parties for the standard bearer of
labor, is illustrated by a Comparison
Of the action taken on the iminigra-
ton BILL by one and the high tariff ac-
ton Of the other. Failure Of the Dem
ocrats ITO pass the Immigration bill
means the influx of cheap labor and
the lowering of American standards
Of living and opening UP new fields
for the exploitation of mankind by
capital, while the high tariff protec-
ton Of the Republicans Is for the big
interests protection, yet they, too,
failed to pass the immigration bill as
presented by the A. F.. Of L. during
the past eight years, for the protection
of American labor.
Therefore unionists to be good eiti-
zens should know the merits and de-
merits Of aspirants for office, in or
der that of the various evils they may
select, or leaving Of the select, the
lesser. preferably the least.
Labor has been promised much and
given little, and that little has been
extended before election, by those
who are placed, by the laboring class,
in positions where they are empow-
cred to act upon much needed labor
legislation, soon forget the promises
made to the commono people and in
the mad rush for glory and fame, fol-
low the lines of least resistance, which
too often are also the lines Of golden
Resistance
Labor must realize that all needed
legislation can not be. accomplished
in one administration, and that the
friends of labor in any legislative body:
are always in the minority. Being in
the minority their hands are tied and
1t is then that the clever statesman
must bring into play all his cunning
and influence, using ell OF the tricks
Of the game to get at least a. portion
OF his program through. The idea Of
any proposed measure being presented
on Its merits only, to any Of our legis-
lat1ve bodies, is preposterous, and
any measure so presented would surely
hit the table with resounding whack,
where Father Time would slowly
| cover it with dust. Here we again
see the value Of public opinion which
paves the way to successful launching
Of bill, along with various methods
| of string pulling; fixing and trading of
legislative support. Here the friend
of labor finds the press arrayed
against him, and with this serious
handicap and many others he must
proceed with the most difficult oper-
alton in our legislative bodies-"put-
ting through beneficial labor mea-
sure. Thus our representative must
play the game intelligently, meeting
fire with fire, cunning and stealth
with stealth, in order that labor may
receive some, consideration In those
inner chambers over whose arches
we read the warning, Abandon all
Righteousness all We who enter here.
Leave all truth behind' and wherein
the laws Of the land are made.
Labor should play the game as all
all other classes do, realizing It's ex-
act strength, planning its future, and
ever bearing in mind that an uphill
battle is a slow one. Thus by using
the modern methods which prevail,
and with the mightiest Of all allies.
Truth and Justice, arrayed with It.,
labor shall conquer, and it's victory
shall be the d's-Exchange
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|f DO YOU KNOW? !