South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-11-16
LABOR HAS FORCE
IN NEXT CONGRESS
Seventeen Members Carry Un-
Ion CardS-Extra Labor SeS-
sion May be Called to Dis
pose of important Measures.
BY FREDERICK VI. KERRY.


WASHINGTON. Nov 16.-Organ-
lied labor will hold the balance of
power in the next congress. Com
plete returns in the hands of South
Trimble, clerk Of the house of repre-
sentatives, shows that Il members of
the new 64th congress are bearers of
union cards and are members of or
gained labor.
These men are Frank Buchanan of
Illinois, William Cary of Wisconsin,
John Casey of Pennsylvania. John
Farr Of Pennsylvania, Mahlon Gar
land Of Pennsylvania, q. G.. Helver1ng
of Kansas. Albert Johnson of Wash
ington, Edward Heating Of Colorado.
John Key of Ohio, David Lewis Of
Maryland. Meyer London of New
York. James Mailer of New York,
John Nolan of California, r. +. Rob-
erts of Nevada, Isaac Sherwood of
Ohio, Charles Smith Of New York and
Carl Van Dyke of Minnesota.
The democrats have a majority Of
Is in the house, according TO the
complete returns. They will have a
total Of 233 members. the repub-
leans will have 1913, the progressives
seven. the socialists one, and indie
pendente one This gives the demo-
Gratis 10 more than enough to contg0l
the house.
It will be evident, therefore, that
the organized labor element, consist
ing Of Il members, can WELD the bal
ance of power in the house if they
will organize regardless Of party lines
and combine to defeat anti-labor
legislation, or to filibuster TO force
concessions for the workers.
Can Force Their Demands.
1t will be recalled that during the
last session. the labor group" as il
is called for the first time in the MS
tory of legislation. threw aside parti-
sanship. met and agreed upon a de-
mand for the Lahore ption" pro-
vision in the antitrust act. After
having their fight as good as won, an
eleventh hour shift of position oc-
Cured, In which the labor people
were induced TO accept less than
they could have secured by standing
fast in their demands; but the total
result showed that the wOrkingmen's
representative can, if they will, Sc
cure many valuable concessions for
the workers
There is every indication thatsPres't
Wilson will he compelled TO call a
special session of the new 64th con-
gress next spring TO consider labor
legislation. 1t is quite true that there
is no present intention on the part of
the democratic politicians 10 do this.
But the mass for labor legislation un-
finished which is piling up ahead of
the December short session must be
disposed of in some way. The best
solution is a special labor session. As
a matter Of fact, Pres't Wilson will
have great difficulty in forcing
through the conservation program
which was left hanging in the air by
the last session, TO say nothing of
labor legislation.
several Bills Pending.
OF the labor bills which have pass
ed one or the other houses Of con-
gress. but which failed Of passage at
the last session, there is now pending
the seaman's bill. the Immigration
bill. the foreign convict labor bill, the
domestic convict labor bill, the bu-
reau OF labor safety bill, the child
labor bill. and the wOrkman'S COM
pensation bill. In addition. the house
labor committee has reported out a
bill abOlishing the "speeding-up"
system in government factories and
has under consideration bills for a ma
tional labor exchange. and many
other necessary pieces of legislation
IN addition TO all this. the Deem
Der session Will receive on it's opening
day the hTst annual report OF the
new industrial relations commission.
headed by Frank Walsh From all
the forecasts this document will ex-
plO1e some unexpected DOmDS. AO-
dressing the American Federation of
Labor i'm Philadelphia. Chairman
Walsh stated that his report will tell
congress that a majority OF the en-
ployers I'm the United States are in
favor of collective bargaining with
their workmen. Walsh also made
other significant statements No
man OF intelligence he said. evil
ever be satisfied until ne is given the
full product of his own toll. That
sentiment viii endure" In conclud-
ing his address ne said: THE destiny
Of labor depends upon your power
and that alone-you must work il out
There is every indication that the
Il men who carry the mandate Of
labor 20 voice its interests in the low
or house viii begin 10 work it out
themselves" And they will have the
help Of practically all the members of
he progressive party. and Of many
iem0crats and repubiice ms. not them
elves members OF labor organiza-
ions but whose constituencies are
largely composed of workin gmen. II
heir united demand is strong enough.