Denver labor bulletin., 1918-03-16

congress 10 enact leSlsidllOH HulllIy-
ing the decision of the supreme court
in the Hinchman case in which the re-
dictionary majority of the court held
that union organizers may not solicit
employees without the consent of the
employer. This decision and the con-
tempt proceedings and damage suits
that will follow it threaten the exist
ence of organized labor, and with
reactionary federal judiciary to deal
with, it is scant comfort for respon-
sible union officials to know that the
enlightened thought of the country is
solidly behind them. The dissenting
opinion by Justices Holmes, Brandeis
and Clarke is the opinion that event
ually will prevail, but meanwhile the
growth and the very life Of the labor
unions is in jeopardy. One of the
most important matters to be consid-
cred at the Forthcoming convention of
the American Federation of Labor will
be the planning of campaign TO OBJ
tain legislation multiplying the absurd
mandate of these stupid old men, who,
like their predecessors, have usurped
power to thwart the will of the people
as clearly expressed in congressional
enactments.
Why, then, would refusal by Con-
gress to reassert labor's rights react
to labor's advantage? Because the
American labor movement has reached
a stage where its interests require
active participation in politics thru
separate organization devoted singly
to the welfare of the wage Garner.
/ Thus far, the old parties have been
able to prevent the formation of
labor party by now and then throw
/ ing labor a bone. The Clayton act to
/ legalize union activities was such a
bone, and labor rejoiced on the assur-
ance that it was a large and succu-
/ lent one. But the Hinchman decision
may have stripped the meat from it,
and a refusal by Congress to make
good its intention might convince labor
that something was wrong with the
system. II was the Taff-Nale decision
Of similar import that united the Brit
ish workers in determination to enter
politics ION their own" and the result
is the powerful labor party that to-
day stands as the chief support of
President Wilson's international pol
icy.
A strong labor party is the need Of
the hour in this country. With Wood
row Wilson in the White House, it
would act as the left wing Of his sup
port, and in presidential elections it
would. for some years at least, merely
throw its support behind the candi-
date of another party whose purposes
most nearly squared with its own.
What is the situation at present?
Labor is represented, after a fashion,
by about eighteen men Of both parties
known in the House Of Representa-
tives as the labor group They have
been skillfully led by men Of the cali
bre of keating of Colorado and Nolan
of California, and they have accom-
l,. .Arra-har nc
a compact group for certain measures.
But they are a pitiful minority in a
body of nearly 500 members. II is
doubtful If their existence as sep
arate group is known to all their fel-
low members. Outside of Congress it
is not known to one man in thou
sand. Their leaders speak with no
authority that carries to the country,
or even to Washington. Pledged to
support certain legislation asked by
the American Federation of Labor,
they owe no obligation to labor eN-
cept in this relatively narrow field of
remedial legislation, much of which
falls within the category of trivial
enactments designed TO aid labor in
small and technical ways. Their au-
thority as n group is limited to meas
ures that have received the official
Endorsement of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor or its executive coun-
Gil, and they are powerless to speak
authoritatively for labor on the many
issues that arise over night in these
quick-moving times Their achieve
ments are not TO be belittled. The
eight-hour day is being widely OBJ
served in the nation today because
of clauses inserted into appropriation
bills thru their influence, and the en-
3 e La Tla,s4.,v7 a
important step in mitigating the
power of reactionary or venal fed
eral Judges. The point is that they
function as n group only in the mar
row trades union field. and as group
are subject at all times to the decis-
ions of men whose grasp of affairs
is limited to the technique of trades
unionism. Men belonging to this labor
group have been free to work and
vote for n protective tariff, to oppose
wealth conscription, 10 favor water
power grabs, to ally themselves with
the most reactionary wing of the Re
publican party And they have used
this freedom. There has been the
spectacle in Washington of congress
men notorious rs servants of privilege
and monopoly receiving labor's official
/ O. X. because they had voted right
on workmen's compensation bill
Wage earners as class are today
intent on thoro- going economic re-
construction They have definite ideas
regarding international policy. and
their influence is likely to be sorely
needed on short notice in support of
democratic principles and against re-
dictionary and imperialistic designs.
They should function continuously and
effectually as political force. Their
point of view should be reduced to
definitepess mud made articulate ms IL