The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-07-09
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Now that Republican and Demo-
cratic conventions are a matter of
history, public attention is focusing
toward Chicago, where a new poll
tical party will be organized July
10th by the Committee of AS, Labor
party, World War Veterans, Non
partisan League and independent
liberals.
The combination of these forces
provides nucleus for the most
powerful new party that ever has
appeared in American politics. The
Committee of 48 has been quietly
pushing its membership campaign
in every state in the union for more
than year. The Labor party is
organized in thirteen states and it's
candidates carried a number of mid
die western cities at recent elections.
The Nonpartisan League has 100000
paid members in thirteen states west
of the Mississippi river, has twice
elected it's entire ticket in North
Dakota, polled 10000 votes in the
Minnesota primary and is admittedly
strong in Wisconsin, South Dakota,
Montana, Idaho, Oklahoma, Nebraska
and Washington.
Senator LaFollette of Wisconsin;
Frank Walsh of Missouri, well
known through his activities as chair
man of the industrial commission
and later of the war labor board;
Governor Lynn j. Frazier of North
Dakota; Justice Walter Clark of
North Carolina; and Senators John
son and Borah are those most men
toned as probable nominees of the
new party. The trend seems to be
toward LaFollette. Questionnaires
sent by the Committee of AZ to
more than 10000 members returned
almost as many endorsements for
LaFollette as for all others com
bined. The Labor party also is said
to favor LaFollette and he is the
overwhelming choice of the North
western farmers. La Toilette re-
Gently carried the Republican presi-
dental primary in Wisconsin-the
only state where his name was on
the ballot-by top-heavy majority
and has strong following through
out the country, particularly in the
West.
The platform suggested by the
Committee or AZ favors public own
ership Of public utilities; the restor-
alton and development of idle land
now held out Of use by monopolsts ::
and equal economic and political
rights irrespective of sex and color,
including rigid maintenance of all
civil rights guaranteed by the Con-
stitution. 1t also opposes the use
Of injunctions in labor cases and
endorses the principles of collective
bargaining and the right Of labor to
share III the management of indus
try.
This clear-cut stand on fundamen-
tai issues is in sharp contrast to the
platforms Of both old parties, which
Dodge domestic problems and try to
divert the peoples attention by con-
Quoting a sham battle over the
league of nations.
The really vital questions which
concern the American people are I'M
checked profiteering, inefficient and
costly transportation, monopoly of
natural resources, wasteful market
ing systems, increased tenantry and
decreased farm production, and the
ruthless exploitation of producers
and consumers by great monopolies.
The new party offers to solve
these problems in an orderly, con-
stitutional manner that will safe
guard public welfare and promote
general prosperity. This explains why
millions of thoughtful citizens in
tend to desert the old organizations
that no longer respond to popular
will and support the new party.
The professional politicians who con
troll the Republican and Democratic
machines claim confidence, but they
know the new party has splendid
chance to win.
In 1856 both old parties lodged
the vital issues of the day. A few
courageous men met to form a party.
They were attacked and laughed at,