davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The labor world., 1920-07-10
STAND BY MURNIAN.

The news of the arrest Of John Muir
ply, chief Of police, and Frank l..
Bradley, United States deputy marshal,
on Wednesday last, came as shock
to their many friends. Both are we'll
and favorab]y known in labor circles.
They were decidedly popular with the
particular groups in which they moved.
These friends and many we'll wishers
are hoping and trusting that a mistake
has been made. Judgment as to their
guilt will be charitably withheld until
the evidence against them shall have
been presented.
The friends of Commissioner of Pub
lie Safety W. F. Murnian are very
much concerned. about the situation
arising from the arrest of his chief
Of police. Mr.. Murnian is having a
difficult time Of it. First came the
unfortunate shooting at Gary when an
alleged bootlegger was killed, then the
lynching Of three negroes and now the
chief of police, charged with partici-
pating in the smuggling Of liquor from
Canada.
The criticism in each case is and
has been unusually severe: Enemies
of labor are taking advantage Of all
the incidents to strike at Mr.. Murnian.
They have been working on the gov
ernor, urging him to remove Murnian
from office, somsthing the governor has
no legal power to do. Leaks from the
grand jury indicate that they are work
ing there, under cover as is their habit.
A whole afternoon, it is rumored, was
spent discussing a motion made by a
juror Recommending to the governor
the removal from office of Commission
er Murnian. The motion did not pass
at the time, but when the grand jury
reports it is expected that Commits
sioner Murnian and the police depart.
ment will be severely censured; pos.
sibly an Indictment may be found
against. him, and it may be that the
governor will be asked to remove him
from office.
Whatever happens, workingmen as we
know them, will stand by Commissioner
Murnian so long as we know him ia
be the honest, sincere, upright and con
scientious man we believe him to be-
Duluth will not be very fit place in
which to live II class hatred is unne-
cessarily stirred up here. 1t is the duty
Of every good citizen to head it of.
The labor world., 1920-07-10
Lab0r'S Nom Partisan Political Policy
is Proving Practical and Educational

and non-partisanship consists in con-
tinued work for our principles re-
gardless of what any political party
NAV do" :.:;. ,~:
The present non partisan activity
is the most intensive in the history
Of ths A. F. Of L. Trade unionists
everywhere are responding to the call
to be true to their principles. |
Aside from placing office seekers
or record. labor's policy of presenting
its demands to political parties andt
to aspirants for political office, re-i
suits in wide publicity of the demands
and aims of the workers. These ex-
pressions are discussed |by citizens
generally whose attention is COM
pelled bv organized labor's insistence
for remedial legislation and ultimate
justice.
This publicity makes it impossible
to refute the claim that organized
labor seeks LEGISLATION beneficial only
to the 100000 members of organ
ICED labor. Trade unionists urge leg
islation for all workers.
This thought was expressed by the
labor conference held in Washington
last December:
"All workers. whether of the city
or countrv. mine or factory,} farm
or TRANSPORTATION. have a common
oath to tread and a common g3oal to
gain. We urge that every practical
action be taken by the A. F. of L..
with the cooperation Of all ORGAN
ICED bodies of workers. farmerst and
sympathetic. libertv-loving citizems Of
the United States to carry into e4 feet
the PRINCIPLES and purposes set forth
in the declaration of this conferen{ce."
The labor world., 1920-07-10
HUGHES SAYS WAR FED
AUTOCRAT|C APPETITE

In discussing bureaucratic rule and
court procedure in this country since
the war began. Charles E. Hughes,
former United States supreme court
justice, said:
1--WE have seen the war powers,
which are essential TO. the preserva-
ton Of the nation in time OF war.
exercised broadly after the military
exigency had passed, and in condi-
tions tor which they were never in
tended. and we may we'll wonder. in
view Of the .precedents. now .estab-
lished. whether constitutional govern
ment as heretofore maintained BY
this republic, could survive another
great war. even victoriously waged.
The speaker declared that democ-
racy does not consist in the passage
of legislation, and called attention
to the ease with which citizens are
assigning their duties to government:
AL bureaus. >.
If our laws were deemed to reg
later our progress there would be
lid tie disposition to boast" he said.
IN Atl1er their study tends to. create
in ,khe lover Of democracy a humble
and contrite spirit. In the art Of
GOVERNING ourselves we not only fall
shoAt of what we should expect in a
freet people Of so great intelligence, E.,
but swe frequently present q sorry
spectacle. X. Il =. .. = i :.: ::5
"WeE,wsnt to war for:s sltbsrtysand
democNlcy with Il the result thatsws
Ted thu autoesat ~. z.
The labor world., 1920-07-10
WoRRY FOR CANDIDATES.

Labor's reaction to the Republican
platform was as quick as it is impress
sive. Samuel Gompers, speaking for
moret han 1000, 900 organized workers,
has declared that the Chicago conven-
tion "has turned its back on 1abor.''
OF the fourteen planks that were pre-
sented as the sum Of. the workers. aims
and aspirations, but one was given any
consideration.
Republican congressional and state
candidates are "execrating the party
leaders and the party platforms for
putting them in a position where they
are unable to defend themselves with
out being charged with disloyalty. The
producers are organizing an effective
non-partisan campaign to impress their
views upon the national election, and
in many districts congressman who are
seeking reelection find that they are
going to have the hardest kind of up
hill hauling to gain the ear Of their
constituents. If they repudiate. the
party pronouneement, they will get in
disfavor with the national leaders, and
if they accept it as written they will
be in disfavor with tho voters.
Quick to take advantage Of the sit
uation, the workers and the farmers
have undertaken to force out in the
open all candidates who are striving
to capture the so-called labor vote.
They will be faced with their records,
where they are available, and those
who heretofore have been long on
promises and short on performance viii
be requested to step forward and state
plalaly Without any frilig d: furbs.
The labor world., 1920-07-10
RAILROADS BREED PANIC.

When groups of bankers make long
journey halfway across the continent
and come to Washington and almost
On their bended knees plead for relief
from an intolerable railroad situation,
it may be naturally assumed that the
situation is bad. When these pilgrims
leave their counting rooms and their
shops and factories and. travel far in
mid summer for the sole purpose OF
telling the officials Of the government
that unless prompt and drastic RENE
dies are applied the country will be
confronted with the most disastrous
industrial and financial panic in its
history, it is an admission that con-
dition exists that commands earnest
and thoughtful attention.
Rrecently group of bankers from
Iowa called upon the Interstate Com
merce Commission and related their
tale of woe. They said that the banks
had loaned heavily on last years crops,
and that by reason Of the transporta-
tion breakdown millions of bushels of
cereals are retained in warehouses and
the farmers are unable to liquidate their
indebtedness. That is a serious situa-
tion, for the bankers as we'll as the
farmers. But that is not the half of
it. The new crops are coming on, the
farmers are clamoring for funds with
which to finance them, and the bank
ers are unable to help them, because
their funds are tied up in crops that
cannot be marketed because the rail.
roads are not on to their job.
The same story comes from other
food-producing states. Industry and
agriculture are being slowly but surely
strangled by the railroad tieup, and
there is no relief in sight. The rail
road managers are compelled to admit
that, despite the heroic assistance they
have had from the government, the
situation has gradually become worse.
Under the diversified and, inefficient
method Of control that is associated
with private management. the govern.
ment cannot employ the means thu,
The labor world., 1920-07-10

The A: F.. of J.: national nom parti-
san: political campaign com mittee has
forwarded the record of. every ,sena-
tor and: congressman to every trade
union within the jurisdiction Of these
respective officials. There is not a
trade unienist in this country that is
unacouainted with the position taken
by, his national representatives on
questions of interest to the wage
earners.
The unionis are acting on the sug-
Restion of the A. F. of l.. committee
to have these records read at vari-
Gus meetings. followed by a discus
sion Of candidates qualifications and
their attitude toward the demands of
labor which are also discussed.
This movement contains no man.
datorv features. 1t is based on the
theory that when workers are in
formed thew will use their ballot for
the benefit of the wage eaners. This
policy is not of recent date. It has
been as much a part of the A. F. Of
L.. since its inception 40 years ago,
as is the right of affiliated unions to
control their wage scales. strike votes
and other internal matters.
In 1896 the A. F. Of l.. convention
declared: "Our movement distinctly
draws the line between political ac-
ton in. the interest of labor and po-
litical partv action"
The 1906 convention said: Labor
has never stood for what our detrac-
tors assert NO politics in the union.'
The fact is that we have declared
against partisan politics. Partisan
ship is exhibited by adherence to a
party which refuses its Endorsement
The labor world., 1920-07-10
NEW YORK PASSES Law |
TO hID*cONSuMpT|vES

ALBANY. N. r, July "a law
passed by the. last legislature is de-
signed to help consumptives who are
without funds. Under this act, every
city. village and town shall certify
a list Of dwellings within their juris-
diction that may be suitable for the
board and lodging of consumptives:
ANY tubercular, who has resided
within the jurisdiction on year or
over, shall be admitted on certifica-
tion by the state, commissioner of
health. If the applicant has suffi-
cient funds he must pay one-third
OF the cost of bo.rd and l6dgins. II
not,.ths county l1eGrs costs. s;,s.ss ss.:s
The labor world., 1920-07-10
Danish Households Now Supplied
Through CO.. Operative Societies

The cooperative movement has
made very considerable progress in
Denmark in the last few: years. The
Danish Statistical Department re-
Gently collected great deal of sta
tistical material on the co-operatives
and now announces that one-half of
the Danish households at present are
being supplied through the Cooper
ative societies.
The cooperative movement in Dem
mark started about the year 1860.
In England and other countries it
was mainly the workinsmen of the
cities that became interested in the
cooperative 5dea, but in Denmark
the movement has always been most
strongly supported by the country
people. The main reason for this was
the Danish trade law of 1857.
In 1919, the total: number of men,
bers of the Danish cooperative So
cieties was $4,000, of whom 252,-
$50 lived in the country districts and
64,341 in the cities. In proportion
to the population, the membership
was 10 per cent, but as generally
an entire household is admitted as
one member. it would be more COR
rect to say that the membership in
proportion to the households, of
which Denmark has about 100000
was about so per cent.
In 1918 the turnover of the Dam
lsh cooperative societies amounted
to about $40,000,00O, or s112 per
rapidly in the last few years, to a
large extent because of the general
rise in prices. But also prior to the
war, before. the revolution in prices,
the co-operatives developed in a re-
markable way. In 1909 the turnover
was $1S,000,000: in 1918 it had in
creased to $26,000,o00, and in 1918
it eliminated with $4,000, 900.
Through THE Joint Society for
Danish Cooperative Societies. the
cooperative movement not only car
ries on wholesale business, bus
also is actively engaged in manufac-
turing raw materials. On account of
the difficulties, during the last few
Years. in procuring raw materials,
especially for the manufacture of
Cleomargarine, the production of the
;Toint' Society reached it's peak in
1916. when it was $4,5eo,ooo. Since
then there has been a decrease, but
this has probably been changed now
that the import Of raw materials is
normal again.
Among the manufacturing con-
Germs established by the Joint So
c!ety are factories making chocola te,
candy, cigars and cigarettes, soap,
mustard chemicals, margarine, etc.
-Ready-made suits, underwear, bicyc-
les, etc, are also manufactured by
the Joint Society. whose: profit on
The labor world., 1920-07-10
trade and manufacturing in 1916
amounted to nearly $2,OO0,000.

trade and manufacturing in 1916
amounted to nearly 100000.
In 1919. there were 1851 cooper
ative societies in Denmark. OF these,
10. IL in the cities and eight in the
country districts, each had a turn
over Of about $4,000 a year. The
combined profit Of all the Danish
cooperative, societies in 1919 was
s2,5O0,OO0. which at the end of the
year was distributed among the
members just as the profit of the
Joint Societies was distributed
among the several societies. In this
way, the mem bers of the co-opera-
tives not only bought their goods
considerably cheaper than in most
1etail stores, but at the end of the
year they> received a dividend of pr
Z per cent on the total amount of
their purchases during the year.
/ The old Danish trade laws gake
the cities exclusive rights to carry OH
trade. This privilege was annullel
by the trade law of 1857, which3
however, still sought to favor thet
cities by stipulating that no, retail
trade" could be carried on inside 4
protective belt" of about seven
miles from the city limits. This was
very inconvenient for the country
people living in the protective belt,'
and as cooperative societies were
not classed as retail stores, the 70.
suit was that one cooperative society
after another was established inside
the belts. Up to 1914 the majority
Of the cooperatives were located in
the protective BELTS" which were
only Established by the law Of Feb
rCary IL. 1920.
One, of the chief reasons why ths
cooperative movement was the pas
siveness of the Labor Party. All
the political parties, including the
Labor Party, hoped to gain the sup-
port of the retail dealers, and, as the
| co-operatives menaced the very ex-
istence of the retailers the Labor
Party found it expedient not to be
too vociferous in its support of the
cooperative societies.
| But the Labor Party won only few
followers among the retail dealers,
and disappointed in it's expectations,
! the party in 1910 commenced to es-
! tablish cooperative societies all over,
| Denmark. The results have been
very important. In Sc Of the II pro4
vincial towns of Denmark, there are
now II cooperative societies with
40.sS7 members, and in Copenhagen
great number of co-operatives have
heen united into one big society with
| 1884 members, large increase.
from 1914, when there were only
| 1928 members and from 1910 when
there were none at all.
The labor world., 1920-07-10
DISABILITY SOLDIERS sTUNa.

Disabled soldiers who have under
gone voeationa y training are the latest
class to be m&>de victims Of a joker
in an act Of cGagress.
These crippled and injured veterans
were led to believe that the new law
would give an inAeease Of $40 month
in pay to those who were in training
under the vocational. education board.
That was what th.s law was drafted
to give them. But after it had been
signed someone discovered that it had
been changed somewhere in it's route
through congress 10 s\s to limit this
payment to such men in' course Of train.
ing, as are living |'whar Re maintenance
and support is above tAe average and
comparatively high.'
The board Announces. with regret,
that as the new law .doea not give it
any means of determining what is
Comparatively: high,'' or OF getting
tho average cost Of maintenance, the
payments must be delayed Aetil it. has
arranged some rough. and rrndy way
of determining these points,: There
must first be. made 4 nationwide sur
vey of the cost:@of food and shelter,
and this will have to be done through
district officers. Then the boand will
have to guess at whether. congress
meant Comparatively high' to >refer
to localities or to. times.
There are 365 lawyers in cong ress
and only l. dozen workers like Qon-
gressman W. L. Carss of this distrA Act.
The labor world., 1920-07-10
COAL FAMINE IMMINENT.

The coal mines are today producing
less than Is per cent of their normal
capacity. In some sections miners are
working but one day week. Short
age of cars is given as a reason for
this condition. Desperate expedients
are being employed by the government
to improve the situation, but they are
Intellectual. The railroads. are unable
to supply cars to the mines, and in
consequence, the mines cannot produce
coal The manufacturers are pleading
for fuel in the most favorable month
OF the year for production and trans
portation. When winter comes we will
have empty coal bins and, in the opin-
ion of competent; authorities, a famine
that will bring with it real hardship
and suffering.
Yet an official of the Federal Trade
Commission declares that were the cars
available efficiently employed mines
could have 4 hundred per cent allot-
ment and there would remain. a reserve
Of Is per cent: against an emergency.
This estimate allows each car twenty
days to make trip from the mines to
destination and takes into consideration
the proper repair Of equipment.
The railroads, under private manage
ment, simply will not and cannot make
intelligent use of cars. The only solu.
stion is unified control, and that implies
(government ownership. From any an:
'syle, pri1ate transportation is an ana
ehronism. It would not be tolerated
Were the American people aroused to
TN gf.vity of sths existing situation.
TA,t speculators Ard bankers tn4y play
WITH the railroads, >thss: prosperity of
the( patton is imp53iled and the: comfort
ana perhaps ths f!fresi Of tho: people
beeoa,s mere pawn: ins the struggle.
Tho farmers. ). kin bw that The railroads
.s prsAent managed are responsible for
th.ir" tAoubl... NE operation. Of coal
mines aye slowly arriving at the same
conclusiop. Manufacturers are being
awakened to the 'hollowness OF the
boasted ingenuity and initiative Of pri-
vate management. Very rapidly we
shall have en unanimous public opinion
demanding the: return of the: roads to
the governteent and. their democratic
operation.
The labor world., 1920-07-10

to the convention of rotary clubs Va
Atlantic City.
The speaker pointed out that tH
government regulates utilities in th2
interest of the general welfare, and
this, he said, is the principle undere
lying his court.
would raise. living standards in the
same class as a railroad or gas
plant, Judge Higgins made a fervent
plea for democracy.
The labor world., 1920-07-10
B0Y.T0WN RAILROADS

BY 'Anise in Seattle Union Record
Eilly built a. railroad
That ran in his yard,
He pushed his steam car"
Up and down it's track
For a hundred feet or more
And all the BOYS =.
Wanted a ride.
So, Billy,
Being a budding 6nancier,
Made them PAY hin,
With balls and bats
And dogs and cats.
And by and by
| Young Billy owned
| MOST Of the movable WEALTH
OF BOYTOWN.
Then he got TIRED
OF PUSHING the car himself,
Sc he HIRED :
| A couple OF other boys
To shove it along.
And still he took in. the cash.
| Eut by and by
BUSINESS got POOR.
| The BOYS were still THERE,
They still wanted RIDES,
But there weren't any marbles :
Or bats or balls
10 buy rides with.
So Billy said: Il guess
This is what father calls
Il PANIC.
Ill have to get some money
In CIRCULATION again."
So he offered to pay boys
For building a DEPOT,
And for CLEANING his YARD
And WHITEWASIlNG
His FENCE.
And WEDDING his garden.
He paid them WE'LL
And the money al! CAME BACK
For lailroad rides.
And Billy found he had
All his CHORES done
And he still owned the road,
And all the wealth of Boytown,
And business grew DULL again.
"Another PANIC" said Billy,
How cam I stop. it?''
Well about this time
The FELLOWS
Got DISCONTINUED
And they ORGANIZED
And COLLECTED WHEELS
And boards and timb
And donated the LABOR
For a Cooperative Railroad
Under THEIR OWN management.
And Billy's railroad
Grew rusty and neglected,
So that he came over to see
What the fellows were doing.
| Every boy took TURNS
| RIDING and then PUSH1NG:
They were having a fine time.
Il guess I'll ride" said Bill,
And he offered them
Some MARBLES:
DAT don't go on THIS line,"
Ihe boys made answer.
III you'se want to ride
You PUSH FIRST,
It's LABOR talks f1ere:"
The labor world., 1920-07-10
GOVERNOR COX.

Inc democrats IN O1lS S0ct1On OIL Cne
country were not enthused at the out
set over the nomination of Governor
Cox of Ohio for President by the ma
tional Democratic convention. McAdoo
is the popular idol Of western Demo
Gratis and not knowing very much about
Governor Cox they took it for granted
that he was bourbon Democrat, NOM
mated by the politicians and bosses.
But Governor Cox is not bourbon
in any sense Of the term. he is q
progressive Of marked type. He is
liberal in political thought and action.
He became famous in Ohio as an ad-
vocate of the single tax. He led tho
fight for the adoption Of the Ohio con-
stitution, the most democratic instru'
ment presented to the people Of any
state in recent times. AS governor OF
Ohio he was sponsor for the state in
dustrial insurance act; positively the
best workingman s compensation,1aw in
the world, an act that fully and fairly
compensates injured workmen during
their entire period Of disability, AMPLY
provides for the permanent cars Of
widows. and orphans, and since it's en-
actment, has saved Ohio employers
$15,oooo00 - money that previously
went into the: Golfers Of the claim
agents and insurance companies.
Republican papers are busy labelintf
Governor Cox as a. "wet.' Delegatesl
at San Francisco were told. that he
was not as ''wet'' as they would wish,
him to be. What isl the faet1 Gov
ernor Cox takes the position Of every
advocate of single tax. He is fun,
damental democrat, opposed to any: sort
Of legislation, the enforcement of which
affects the personal liberty Of mon and
women, Some persons are '"dry'' and
nothing else, just as others are '''wet"
who would sacrifice, every principle for:
which the people are contending to
please their appetites. Governor Cox
would have relieved the traffic Of the
tax that was responsible for CONNER
cializing it, and in line with single tax
advocates generally, held that if this
| were: done drunkenness: would disap-
pear as it came, in the wake Of =
highly. taxed traffic.
There is no consolation in the posi-
ton Of Governor Cox for those who
have pro6ted in the traffic, and time
alone will show whether absolute pro-
hibition or tax free manufacture and
sale will better. promote real temper,
ance. In any event: Governor Cox is
consisten and is no hypocrite. Pos
sessed Of definite opinions Oh law and
government he can be depended upon
to do his duty at all times.
As between Governor Cox and Sen
ator Harding for President Of the
United States the independent progress
sive voter will experience no difficulty
in making a choice when he examines
into their respective records. Governor
Cox will appeal to the progressive indie
pendent and Senator Harding to the
conservative and reactionary.
The labor world., 1920-07-10
LABOR IS LIKE COAL. OR
IRON UNDER KANSAS Law

The Kansas "can't-strike' law is
based. on the theory that labor is a
commodity, according to w. L. Hug
gins, president Of the Kansas court
of industrial relations, in an address