Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1924-07-11
LABOR'S POSITION
IN 1924 CAMPAIGN
NOT THIRD PARTY
CONTINUED from Page One,

1t must, in the field of politics, press
for those men and measures that adj
vance the interests of the toiling
masses. Labor has its broad inter-
ests of citizenship and general pro-
gress, but it's first concern is solely
with the welfare of the great masses
of wage earners.
Principles for which Labor con-
tends cannot be the private property
of any other political party. These
principles have to do with humani-
tartan and libertarian issues. They
are neither Republican nor Demo-
cratic, neither socialistic nor populis-
tic. Not any more than they are Pres
byterian or Baptist.
These principles must be consider
ed by men and either accepted or re-
jected by men. If a whole political
party organization wishes to support
any or all of Labor's principles, that
is entirely agreeable to Labor, but
such an act could not put the party
label on the principles to the exclu-
sion of any other support.
Victory in Reaction
Now, as before, the average result
of so-called third party adventures
will be victory for reaction.
Practically this is what happenss
The third party" draws from the
most progressive of the other can
didates. The more conservative loses
no votes to a third party" candi-
date.
Thus progressive votes are divid-
ed, the progressive cause weakened.
When progressives divide among
themselves reaction wins. History
records altogether too many sad cases
OF this zone foot forward and two
feet backward" kind of frog-in-the-
well advancement.
Principles which Labor supports
may, on the other hand, be rejected
entirely by an entire party organiza-
ton, but that cannot signify that
there has been any change in the
principles. Politically, they remain
as hon-parJlsan as ever.
LabOr's Demands NOn-Partisan
Representatives of all parties have
espoused measures for which Labor
has contended. Witness such measures
as the Seamen's Act, the Eight-hour
Act, the Clayton Act, the Suffrage
Amendment, the recent immigration
Act, and the still more notable Child
Labor Amendment to the United
States Constitution.
In each case larger percentage of
one party voted for these measures
than was mustered by the other par
ty, but that did not make them party
measures. Nor could it. Labor was
interested in the success of the meas
ures, not in the fortunes of a party.
Seldom has a Labor measure been
fought through Congress as a strict
party measure, either Republican or
Democratic, and Labor has never had
any wish that any party should seek
to exclude any other party from,
Labor's demands.
- AObhAiAE IN AnN
Labor demand to stamp it as impos-
sible of acceptance by men of anv
political allegiance. There is moth.
ing in any Labor demand to stamr
it as Republican or Democratic. No,
is there anything in any Labor de.
mand that inherently requires a new
political party for its success.
1t is all condensed in the simpl,
statement that essentially Labor's de
mands are not political.
Entangling Alliances
To enter into partisan relation
ship with any political party-even
party which might call itself Labo
Party-would necessitate the espous
al of propositions that were not al
outgrowth of the labor movement an,
its requirements. The labor move
ment would have to participate in tn
fight for or against propositions of
purely political nature having moth
ing to do with Labor.