Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-01-28
ORGANIZED LABOR AND THE LEAGUE

The Chicago Daily News tells of plans for the in
vasion of the state of Illinois by the Nonpartisan league.
and especially of plans for the entrance Of the league
into the city politics of Chicago. There the appeal is
being made to organized labor, but thus far the Chicago
labor unions have not warmed up greatly to the league
overtures.
In Minnesota a similar effort has been made TO
swing the labor unions into line with the league, and
again without great success. Some of the comment in
the Union Labor Bulletin, of Minneapolis, indicates quite
clearly that the Minnesota union membership is not like
ly to be hoodwinked by the Townley propaganda. The
Bulletin is one of the best known labor papers in the
country. Its status is indicated by the announcement
carried at the head Of its editorial column that it is
the Official paper Of the United Card and Label Coun-
Gil of Minneapolis. Chartered by Label Department,
American Federation of Labor"
This labor publication warns its readers to beware
of the men who are trying to harness the labor move
ment to a political kite that will serve the Socialist party
without using its name" 1t urges that the remedies for
grievances be sought through the orderly processes of
law, and declares that 1.-THE American worker is in better
position today than ever in history to fortify himself
against short wages and long hours if he will work out
his own salvation along constructive lines as outlined
by the American Federation Of Labor, but it he listens
to the siren call of the day dreamers in the Socialist
party, his road is likely to be a rocky one and his desuna-
ton problematical,"
In still another article the Bulletin says:
1.-The formation of a labor political party is at pres
ent occupying the attentions of practically the full mem
bership Of organized labor, and the opinions expressed
by leaders in the movement show such wide divergence
as to practically nullify further action along those lines.
Samuel GQmpers, president of the American Federatio
of Labor, is not in favor of the proposition. aad ha is
backed up in the position he has taken by most of his
close associates and co-workers in the American labor
movement. If it were possible to form a labor polit,eal
party that could be governed by laws which would make
|1' mandatory on the membership to unselhshly support
a party ticket under penalty of losing membership in a
local union, then such a party could function to the ad-
vantage OF the labor movement, but such a dose of med
iclne would undoubtedly prove too strong for the patient,
which would result in loss of physical strength and ut-
lmately death. The starting Of one labor party under
present conditions would undoubtedly result in the for
nation of other such parties in different sections Of the
country, with the result that the labor forces would be
more hopelessly divided than ever before Rut tho re,,
argument against such a movement is the thought that
the movement itself and what it stands for would suffer
IN no small degree and we would lose much of the prest:
'ge now enjoyed after years of strenuous work in the
upou''o'ns OF this great movement that now represents
over five million workers. The fact that the Nonnart.
1san league has put its o. X. on the formation or such n
national party should be enough to make all real union.
ists watcn their step. Prominent members of the league
IN this section are looked upon with suspicion bv a ma
1ority OF the workers, who are convinced that the lea e,,e
Is interested in the labor movement only to the extent II
can be used to the advantage Of political candidates
hand picked by Townley."