Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-15
ITS POLITICAL EFFECT
BrookIyn's TWo-Fare Fight
May Sway Voters.
MIGHT HELP THE RADICALS
Likely to Increase Anti Corporation
Sentiment.
STAND TAKEN BY LABOR
Claimed That the Trolley Car Clash
Can Have No Bearing on the
Federation's Campaign.
;TAND TAKEN BY LABOR

Both democratic and republican leaders
who are constantly searching the horizon
for indications Of storms or continued good
weather are paying good deal of atten-
ton to the happenings in connection with
the clash that has occurred between the
citizens of New York and the managers of
the Brooklyn Rapid Transit railroad over
the demand Of the people that only five
cent fare shall be charged from Brooklyn
to Coney Island and the refusal of the
company to comply with that demand.
The effect Of this clash is not a party mat
ter. Its importance is its effect on that
radical spirit toward corporate influences
tnat mas been growing perceptibly in New
YORK and IN some other large centers OF
population. 1t is regarded as in the same
line OF influence as the life insurance COM
pany exposures. 1t is looked upon as fuel
Tor hostility toward all corporate institu-
serious clash between the people and the
corporation involved have already been
fully reported in the daily papers, but they
Will all be again pictured in lurid colors in
eertain magazines that make speciality of
just that kind of matter, presented SO as to
impress the public mind as typical of cor
porate greed and defiance Of court deci-
sions.
Happening on the eve of congressional
election and before nominat ations are made
In many districts, the incident is regarded
as likely to help the aspirations Of men
OF radical views on political and Industrial
questions whose place In the political world
largely depends upon the degree Of hostility
they can secure to support them IN the
advocacy Of drastic legislation affecting all
corporate interests.
Effect on the Labor Vote.
It is said such occurrences are quite
likely to play some part In the fight that
the Federation of Labor Is making to Sc
cure members Of the House of Representa-
,tives who will in some special way stand
for the legislation that has been demand
by organized labor. OF course. the incl
dents connected with hostile clash be-
tween the railroad company and its pa
irons, in fact, represent nothing beyond
the conditions met in that particular cas c.
but such matters being passed along and
interpreted to many people, chiefly by men
inclined to exaggerate them, 1t Is claimed.
are likely to have an effect far beyond
what would be expected from them when
viewed in conservative way for exactly
what they are worth.
Those who know the Federation of Labor
and its leaders, however, declare that it
stands on higher grounds than would allow
1t to have recourse to any such incident to
influence members Of organized labor
against candidates for either congressional
nominations or for election as members Of
the House 1t is declared the demands of
the Federation Of Labor are for the enact
ment Of legislation that 1t has advocated
and 1t proposes to oppose men on whom
it lays the blame for its failure to secure
the enactment of such legislation. The out
come of that opposition, which 1t has di-
rected toward certain men prominent in
both political parties, will depend upon the
individual judgment of men who are MEM
bers of organized labor. The reasons for
the course that has been pursued by those
prominent leaders will be laid before their
constituents, so that all may form a judg-
mant TO fha of ho
they have followed.
Two Important Elections.
The first election in which this influence
may figure in that Of Mr.. Littlefield Of
Maine, the election in that state coming
off October 10. Mr.. Little1eld and his
friends will stoutly defend the independent
course taken by him, not only on account
of his acts in themselves toward legisla-
tion advocated by organized labor but also
because of the support that they insist
should be given to legislators in the use Of
their best judgment in all such cases, with
out fear or favor.
From Illinois it is announced that
Speaker Cannon proposes to take no hand
IN his district. but will allow such mat
ters to take their course. There is some
question at this time whether he will have
a. strfsa opponent is stated that
time has passed when democrat may be
nominated in Mr.. Cannon's district. Should
that prove to be the case 1t would very
much simplify matters for Mr.. Cannon's
candidacy. Should there be no democratic
candidate 1t would be difficult to rally any
opposing force Of Importance against him,
especially as his vote in the last election
was 30,920 against 1888 for his demo-
cratic opponent, with 2,456 for the prohi-
bitionist and 1,09s for the socialist candi-
date in that, district: The next few days
will determine whether there will be a
method by which democratic candidate
may be put up in Mr.. Cannon's district
and many democrats contend that that
course may probably be taken.
There are a number of other districts
in which these same qustions will be
raised in connection with other candidates
for reelection. The voting on all except
in the case Of Mr.. Littlefie1d will not take
place before November.