The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-09-04

The third party Issue OF today
brings some Of the older trade
unionists in America back to an
independent labor party which
was very popular IS years ago.
1t was known as the Labor party
and was organized by union men
who: had become. disguised with
living conditions and the bitter
struggle for existence. They de-
cided to enter politics in a body
and their first tryout was in the
mayoralty contest in the city of
New York. They did not win,
but they kept the old party lead
ers guessing until the votes were
counted.
Henry George, who vas popular
because o. Progress and Poverty"
was the only candidate that the
unionlsts could agree upon They
sent word to Mr.. George asking him
II he: would be their candidate for
mayor. At first he declined abso-
lutely because he had no political
am b1eions. Eut they insisted and
three delegations were sent to inter-
view MIR. gorge hen he did consent
to be their candidate it was on con.
dltion that $4,000 unionists and 9TH
ers sign petitions that they wanted
him for mayor and would vote for
nm. This provision was complied
with and over $1,000 signatures were
secured.
Fer Labor and Labor.
Henry George accepted this honor
not because Re wanted to be mayor
OF New York city, but because he
wanted to bring the land problem be-
fore the people. He thought that the
land problem would become more
discussed and popuarized than years
of writing.
The night Henry George made his
nominating speech at Copper Union
the place was packed and he had diff
HcaIty IN getting in. The following
eA;ia~ta from his nominating speech
are very Opportune at this time:
Ike step | am about to take has
not been entered upon lightly. When
my nomination for mayor Ut New
York was first talked of | REGARDED
1t as d nomination which was not to
De thought ABOUT. l did not desire to
be mayor Of New York. l have had
IN my time political ambition, but
years ago l save it up. l saw Wha1
PRACTICAL politics meant; | saw that
under the conditions as they were q
man who would make a political ca
reer must crinse and fawn and i'm
trlgie and f1atter, and resolved
thai should not SO degrade nv
manhood.
Biazcd tho TAIL
Another career opened to ME, the
pain that had chosen, that my ewes
"cle liked upon, Was rather that OF q
pioneer that Ut line men who go in
advance Of politics., the men who
o.tak the road that after they have
gone WEI he trod by millions. /,
seemed to me that there lay duty and
mat there lay my career, and since
tbs nomination has been talked
bout my friends here and through
ave sent NE letter after letter ask.
AZ me not to lower, as tney are
H. ascd to term it, the position I oc.
~ u1!ilAuS LOT munlClD3
Office.
Tut | believe, and have long be-
neFed' that workingmen ought to &C
into politics. l believe, and | have
long believed, that through polite;
was 1he way, and the only way, b,
which anything real and permanen
could be secured for labor. In tina
pain, however, l did not expect t
tread. That, l thought, would de
VolVe upon others, but when the sec
rotary OF this nominating conventio.
came to me and said. You are til,
only man upon whom we can unite
ina want YOU to write me a lettej
~-'her accepting or refusing to accep
ana ewing your reasons that put ;
Inherent face on the matter. Whe,
i came that way l could not refuse
out made my conditions. aske,