The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1919-08-30
old: GANG POLITICIANS. -. !.
PLAN TO OUTLAW LABOR
CONTINUED from PAGE IL

| cost Of living.
The tactics used against Mr.. Keller
will be used in the state campaigns
next year by old gang lineups against
labor and its progressive allies. That
! is the simple reason why the legis-
| lature has been called to meet in spe-
cial session for the main purpose of
emasculating the primary election law
Labor Opposed to Change.
Governor Burnquist is. recommend
ing changes in the primary law in
spite of the fact that the Minnesota
State Federation Of Labor at its re-
cent convention went on record unani-
mously as opposed to any change in
! the law.
J The Nonpartisan league, represent
! ing the organized farmers Of Mime
sofa, also is against any tampering
WITH the primary law.
All the advanced and progressive
! thought of the state has taken a sim
! liar position.
That, in itself. is evidence of where
! the move comes from to change the
! primary and what is back Of that
| move. -
| AS camouflage to hide this scheme
the legislature is to az: on other meas
ures, which the: schemers hope will
| conceal their real purpose and which
| they trust will so appeal to the pub
lie in general as to regain for them
| a following that is drifting away with
| the crumbling Of old-party machines.
| Hit Upon One Idea.
They have hit upon the idea Of sup
| plying a bonus for returned soldiers
Labor always has favored this The
friends of labor in the last legislature
voted for it. If the gang politicians
then had voted with the labor forces
no special session would be needed
now to do what the legislature was
! in session to do last winter.
Action is urged to prevent forest
fires in northern Minnesota. Labor
and it's friends insisted that this &C
ton be taken last winter. The friends
of labor urged a special session last
I October for this purpose after 400
lives had been sacrificed and $27,0O0,-
900 worth of property destroyed by
fires that could have been prevented
if proper action had been taken in
| time.
|
political traders and dealers in. con-
troll of the legislature. Warnings
were given before these fires to state
| officials, but they took no steps to
prevent the fires. More warnings were
given at the regular session of the
legislature last winter. but no action
resulted.
| All the while labor voted in favor
of measures for fire prevention. 1t
was the opponents of labor and old
gang politicians that defeated these
measures That defeat was due to
the fact that the gangsters could see
| no political advantage in permitting
the measures to become law.
Would Defeat Labor Candidates.
Now a political advantage can be
seen. The gang rulers have an idea
that by permitting the passage Of
these and other justly popular meas
ures they can cover up through an
overshadowing process their scheme
to tear apart the primary law am
thus gain chance for an appeal next
wear to defeat labors candidates for
office through lodging real issues and
facts.
It is not likely, however, that In
making this appeal, If they win the
chance they will cite any voting rec
ords on questions of fire prevention,
aid for soldiers and other popular
measures.
Voters can we'll remember this fact
that if labor. had been in political con-
troll of the legislature last winter every
bill of merit the special session is
called to consider would then have
been enacted into law. The only ex-
ception is woman suffrage, the fed
eral constitution amendment for this
reform having been adopted by con-
gress after the legislature adjourned.
Labor is on record throughout the
country in favor of suffrage.
The people paid in taxes $4,000
for the legislative session last winter.
They now will be called upon to pay
$4,000 and probably more to do what
labor insisted should be done last win
ter-and tn addition the $4,000 Of
public funds are to be used in aiding
old-guard party machines to finance
schemes for the perpetuation of their
| power. -:
This fact alone should convince any
fair-minded person that the time has
come for political action on the part