Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-07
BY JAMES W. SULLIVAN.

and voclferOuSly urging the lorna
ton of a distinct labor party in this
country along political lines. This
proposal has come up frequently al
annual conventions of the American
Federation of Labor, and has always
been unceremoniously voted down by
the hard-headed representatives OF
the several million wage workers as
sembled there, for these men know
the history of the, British labor party.
Very briefly summarized. it may be
said that labor's entry into politics in
that country as separate political
party has brought confusion to the
workers. 1t interferes with the prog
ress of union organization. engenders
enmitieS among union officials, car
ries far and wide the fever of political
campaigning all the year round, has
pushed labor representatives to I'M
patriotic votes on war measures in
parliament, brings to the party less
than a fourth of the wage labor vote
of the country and has eventuated
with respect to efficient laws for Ia
boris protection in a less satisfactory
SiludtIOH IHdH eAlStS III rHe
states of America.
Labor Works for Wage-Earners.
In the United States the labor move
ment is wage-workers' movement,
and they know without doubt what
fealty to their union requires of
them. They are not bound to a la Dor
party or to labor candidates. The
power of their will goes by democrat
ic processes from the thirty odd thou
sand local unions to the annual con-
vention of the American Federation of
Labor. the final interpreter of Amer
lean labor's policy and program. Pro-
Louncements on political party mat
tiers there are unmistakable. BY votes
approaching unanimity the conven-
decide against wage-workers'
party, either union or socialist. The
American movement is a trade union
movement pure and simple.
In Great Britain among the most
prominent leaders of the so-called
political labor movement are men and
women who were never wage-work-
ers. The trade unionists, supplying to
the party nineteen-twentieths of the
votes and a greater proportion of the
contributions, mostly remain specta-
tors to the play. From the outsiders
comes a stream of proposals for the
reorganization of society to which the
majority Of the wage-workers of the
kingdom steadily refuse asserting
votes.
Before the organization of the labor
party in Great Britain leaders in la
DORIS cause in that country were prac-
tically united in the unions for COM
mon ends, were mutually apprecia-
tive teammates, usually impressed
with one another's sincerity. each ac-
knowledging the others merits and
deeds of self-sacrifice. Today the sit
uation is absolutely reversed, and the
solidarity Of yesterday has been trans
formed into confusion and back bit
ing indie scribable. A few examples
taken from the list of men prominent
in the labor movement in Great Brit
ain In recent years will serve to illus
trate the statement that has been
made.
John Burns Career Significant.
Commencing with John Burns of the
engineers. we find that politics car
ried him away from the activities of
his union. put him in parliament as a
labor representative. turned him over
10 the liberal party and took him to
the presidency of the local govern
ment board. On the outbreak. of the
VI a = hlr ant vNA al
the mass of his countrymen and he
passed into private life.
j. Havelock Wilson of the sailors.
MS union record approaching forty
years, variously designated in the ref
erence books as a coalition labor" or
coalition liberal" NJ. p. his majority
over his opponent. a labor candidate.
was last December 1909; in OPPOSE
lion TO the labor party yet elected at
tho trade union congress to the pres
ent parliamentary committees. for
years target for socialists and ex-
treme labor partisans
Alexandra Wilkie of the shin
wrights, a labor NJ p and for twelve
years member of the parliamentary
committee. is at present member OF
the management committee General
Federation of Trade Unions. which
body was two years ago excluded
from joint committee work with the
trade union congress and the labor
party. Then there is David Gilmour
OF the miners. general secretary, ma
fional democratic and labor party.
now represented in the house OF com
mons by ten members. His party is on
the other side of the house from the
labor party.
One could give long list of labor
men who are occupying prominent
government positions, such as the
RI. Hon. John r. Clynes OF the
gas workers. the Rt. Hon. George
H. Roberts. head of the min
Teton. permanent secretary. ministry
of labor. etc. The lack of unity IN
politics or otherwise as illustrated in
the case of these prominent leaders
characterizes the situation in all
grades of union membership through
out the country.
In November. 1918. the labor party
by large vote. withdrew from the
coalition with the government and di
1ected the eight labor men occupying
high government office TO withdraw
-Four only obeyed this command.
Socialists Defeat Union Move.
At recent trade union congress
a motion was presented declaring in
favor OF distinct political labor
party exclusively for the trade union
movement. This was debated for tn.
better part of two days The burden
of the argument of those favoring the
resolution was that the "intellectu-
ais" had done their best to capture the
executive control of the trade union
The congress was warned against nut
ting up as candidates brilliant middle
class speakers who tell you that they
know the wants of the workers peter
than you do. because they have had a
collegiate education and YOU have
not" This motion did not prevail. be.