English VI.

DEBATE OF NOVEMBER 23, 1887.Question : "Would the best interests of the laboring classes be advanced by the formation of a separate labor party?"

Brief for the Affirmative.J. A. Bailey and T. F. H. Bottum.

I. Questions defined.

II. Laborers have interests which may be advanced by political association.- Nation, Feb., 1887, p. 158.

(a) Factory and mine laws; (b) restriction of immigration; (c) public land acts; (d) graduated taxation land acts; (e) restriction of corporations.

III. The interests of the laborers are not likely to be advanced by either of the great political parties.- Sumner. "What Social Classes Owe to Each Other," 84, et seq.; Princeton Review, Nov., 1887. 321.

(a) The two great parties represent the capitalist class; (b) the interests of the laborers are not the same as those of the capitalists.

IV. A labor party will advance the interests of the laborers.

(a) By forcing the great parties to take action; (b) by the education resulting from sgitation.

Brief for the Negative.C. II. Burdett, E. J. Hall.

I. Workingmen differ widely as to what their best interests are, and as to the best methods for advancing those interests. Consequently a union in one organization is impossible.- Ely's "Labor Movement in America," Appendix; Wright on K????????? of Labor; Journal of Economics, Vol. I., p. 137.

II. Such a party, starting on the assumption that "capital is the enemy of labor," will array the classes of society against each other.- Boston Daily Globe, Oct.- Nov., 1886. Speeches of Henry George and others.

III. The history of the labor movement in politics thus far shows that its success means socialism.- Recent Am. Socialism, Johns Hopkins Studies, Vol. III.

IV. The first demands of the workingmen have thus far been met by legislation in the different States, a fact which shows that the present parties can better advance their real interests.

V. Laborers have no true interests separate from those of the community. Their supposed grievances arise from misunderstanding; the remedy lies in education, not in political action.