THE POLITICIANS AND THE LABORERS.
By Editor
It is well to note and to remember that politicians who are bearing about a pretended burden for the 'laboring class' have always a special reference to the welfare of the labor unions. The man who vouchsafes any special solicitude for the far larger labor element, those who do not sustain such formal organizations, is set down as an enemy to the laboring class. A moment's thought reveals the reason for this condition. Shrewd politicians and political parties always encourage the formation of clubs for the more perfect control of the masses. Men are induced to form these clubs under the representation that it is for their own benefit, but everybody ought to know that the real beneficiaries are those who get access to the public crib, either as office-holder or under the patronage of the office-holders. The professional politicians always aim to get in ahead of the procession of clubs. So they are taking advantage of the disposition to form labor unions. By encouraging this idea, and posing as friends of labor, they hope to get the political support of the unions. And they are succeeding. It is the spirit of politics that is inducing the laborers, ostensibly for their own benefit, to bind themselves in bundles for the more convenient handling of their would-be political masters. It is worthy of particular note that no special 'labor' politician has any good word for the great mass of laboring people outside of the unions. These are virtually, and oftentimes directly, told that they are unworthy of consideration, or even of protection by the government, unless they will come into the organizations—which means that they can be practically handled for political purposes. Many union men are blind to this fact as yet; but there are others who see it and admit it, yet think they can not help themselves and keep their jobs. It is not surprising that people who have been reared in ignorance and illiteracy should be lured into combinations, to be made the stepping-stones of individual ambition; but it is surprising that men and women who have been fairly well educated under institutions whose boast is the inculcation and protection of personal freedom and independence, can be thus led to sell their birth-right. But these are days of delusion, when the shrewd few are seeking more and more to control the credulous masses. When capitalists are trusting in their wealth, and laborers are trusting in their human unions, and all are manipulated by the wily politicians, it is high time for the disciples of Christ to seek a 'closer walk with God.' Blessed is the man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.