American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-09-13
POLITICS AND LABOR.

The governments policy has led, as
was inevitably forescen, 10 an epidem-
ic of strikes. Political labor leaders
saw their opportunity and got busy.
The more unions. the greater the pow
er OF the labor leaders and the greater
their emOluments.
IL Is not unrest among the workers
that causes strikes. but political lead
ers who trade on the labor votes. They
are bold and cunning. and some of
them interruptions. For instance. the
great mass meeting 70 protest against
The traffic In munitions, held In Chi
cagO in January, 1916, made up of
workingmen and farmers, II is now
disclosed, was part Of the German
propaganda. German money is be-
hind the l. w. W. in every strike.
The adoption of socialistic ideas to
stress Of war has stimulated the de
mands Of labor politicians for more
of the same sort and legislators weak
~ yield. Congress passed a seaman's
bill and an iliiteracy bill at labOr's
demands. Both have had to be put in
allegiance because their operation in
tcrlered with the prosecution of the
war. Their glazing imperfections
were distinctly pointed out while the
bills were pending. but the political
labor leaders cOwed our legislators.
Now the labor agitators are de-
handing a new trial for Mooney. in
spite OF the final decision Of the
courts ia California against him. They
did the same thing with Mcnamara.
the Los Angeles dynamiter, and con
tributed 5000. 900 for his defense. The
best his counsel could do was to ad-
wise him to make a confession, which
he promptly did. Gompers himself
not 50 long ago dehed the courts and
was sentenced TO jail for contempt. but
never served a day of his sentence.
The Clayton law conceded every
thing to the political labor leaders,
who no more control the labor vote
than they do the votes of the farmer,
school teacher, clergyman, or clerks
IA business houses.
Labor disputes are no longer set
tied by parties in interest. but are ia
ken TO the favorable atmosphere of
Washington. and adjusted to satisfy
the political labor leaders. A premium
is put on strikes where labor condi-
tions had been peaceful before. The
most fragrant case was that of the
Western Union.
Now we have a threat to %unionize
all the steel and iron works and all
the ship and lumber mills. After the
governments surrender TO the Big
Four nothing is 90 rash for the labor
politicians to demand. A cowed con
gress. with a few notable exceptions.
Is whipped into line. Yet indepen-
dent members were not punished.
The great mass Of the workingmen
sustained them at the polls and re-
turned them to their seats at the last
congressional election.
Had a secret ballot been permitted.
not one of the great strikes in the
munition factories would have been
ordered by the workers, but they had
no recourse but 10 submit or be as
sailed as "scabs" or driven from the
union.
In every strike three elements are
involved the employers. the employe.
and the public. The last mentioned
always foots the bill. II wages are
advanced. prices rise and the ultimate
consumer puts his hands deeper into
his pockets while crying out against
the higher cots of living.
The disregard Of the rights Of the
public by strikers Is most reprehen-
sihlc Walters watch until a dining
room Is FUR and then march out To
the discontinue of guests against
whom they hold no grievance. Trol-
ley men wait for "a holiday. and strike
early I'm the morning 90 discomfort the
traveller Tho Big -Four threatened TO
tic up the business of the country.
which meant in twenty four hours no
milk Tor sick babies. no food for in
,alids. no coal for Industries. i'm any
large city. Vet the public. misled
and misinformed by contemplate yell
low sheets. never murmured.
We believe In the right of every
worker 20 seek an open market for his
brains and Drawn. We believe in
high wages and a good living We
d.scountenancc violence and dlstrust
labor leaders who trade with politi-
clans.
The American workingman is the
best I'M the world. the most Intelligent.
the most efficient and the most indie
pendent No political labor leader
carries the workingman's vote in his
pOcket-Leslies'