The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-07-20

Hampton Moore, OF Pennsylvania.
| Moore has begun his campaign for
compulsory patriotism by introduce
ing bill in the House ito prevent
and punish the dissertation OF the
flag of the United States''
Part of the bill provides:
THAT whoever shall publicly or
| privately mutilate, deface. detile. or
DEFY, trample on. or CAST CON
TEMPT. EITHER BY WORDS or
act. upon any such flag, standard,
| ensign. shall be fined not more than
| 5000. or be imprisoned not more
| than one year or BOTH
If Moore's bill becomes a law IL
would be criminal to call attention
to the fact that. capitalists and
crooks Haunt the flag to cover their
lawlessness. 1t would be criminal to
protest against the lawless actions
Of gang of scabs led by Pinker-
tons marching behind the American
flag.
or course. Moore has a reason to
oe patriotic. He is the representa-
tive of the Ship Trust primarily and
the Third Philadelphia district in
cidentally. Patriotism means bat
tleships. Battleships means cold
cash to the Ship trust. Thus Moore
can he excused for his patriotic pro-
clivities.
While his bill is a serious matter,
1t Is also very amusing. Think of
getting Congressional act to force
American citizens to evoke patriotic
sentiment. 1t Is about as funny as
senator HeNburn's suggestion that
pelling citizens to volunteer as sol
diers.
AT this rate we may expect that
congress VIII be soon called upon
to enact a law compelling" Amer
lcan citizens to have their hearts
beat faster than usual every time
they hear the "Star-SpangIed Ran
ner" played
people Not FIT to Rule
Ihe Ameican people cannot be
trusted and are unfit to manage
their own affairs.
This is the gist of a long speech
delivered by Senator Sutherland. of
Utah. against the "recaIl' feature or
the proposed Arizona constitution
Sutherland is an arjstocrat ua
frankly advocates the theory of "s,-
perior brains He believes Soma
men are fit to rule. The rest ouebt
to be governed for their own good.
The Utah Senator is a trained re-.
dictionary. Unlike Senator Heyburn
OF Idaho. Sutherland is a logician
ana an able speaker. When Suther-
land takes the floor, the senile stand
pattcrs of the Eastern States turn
their 'bloated faces beaming with
admiration toward the direction OF
the Tory Senator from the West.
And Sutherland never disappoints
them. He is sane
Sutherland's argument Is that the
people should pick out the "ablest".
to run the government. But the
picking should be done under the
present rules. The initiative and
referendum. he said. would make ef-
hcient government difficult, If not
impossible.
Which means that the reactionary
Sutherland inwardly fears that a
rev political system would deprive
politicians like himself the opportu-
mites they now have to rule and to
exploit.
More "Gratuitous Criticism''
The weekly news service of the
American Federation of Labor saws
that the National Socialist Press COZ
course. not mentioning our name)
has offered 'gratuitous criticism" re-
latinG to the Steel Trust Investigat-
ing Committee handling the labor
end of that Investigation
1t assures US that the committee
Will investigate the labor conditions
in the steel plants. Here is what
the National Socialist Press said on
June ?, a month before this tip
from the A. F. of l.. service:
1T is likely that the committee
Will later take up the labor ques-
ton. This would be done to dis
credit the trust from political
standpoint"
But on the same date We also
said: After examining and cross
examining Gary regarding the busi-
t ess relations of the trust for nearly
five days. the committee only touch
ed the labor question for about five
minutes"
For this "gratuitous criticism
we plead guilty.