The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-09-24
NORMALLY"
VS.. PROGRESS
CONTINUED from Page One)

ton for the vested interests than
the Esch- Cummins railroad law. No
piece Of legislation enacted by that
Congress struck more deeply at the
heart of Labor's rights than this law.
The platform upon which Hr. Hard
ing is a candidate declares that eve
endorse the transportation act of
1920 enacted by the Republican Con
gress as a most constructive legisla-
tive achievement" This "construc-
tive" achievement was described by
Labor's analysis of the platform as
"in reality a denial of the lawful
right Of the workers to cease work"
Taking his stand upon this plank
of the Republican platform Senator
Harding would not merely return
to the normal, he would return al
most to the prehistoric.
Since the overthrow Of the Dictator
Diaz, the question Of American re-
lations with the Republic Of Mexico
has been one of intermittent acute
ness and of constant importance. The
American trade-union movement has
held from the outset that the people
of Mexico have the right to work
out their own problems without in
reference on the part Of the United
States or any other nation. The pol
icy Of President Wilson has coin
cided admirably with that thought
In the language Of Labor's analysis,
the Mexican plank in the Republican
platform 'clearly aims to undermine
the sovereignty Of the Mexican peo-
pie and to make the maintenance
Of order in Mexico the business Of
the government of the United Statse."
Labor's analysis further declares that
the Republican platform proposes
the fulfillment of what have long
been the hopes and aims of those
whose sole object is the exploitation
Of the people and the boundless re-
sources of Mexico"
In the seclusion of his broad and
comfortable front porch at Marion
Senator Harding observes the Re
publican platform and finds it
document after his own heart. He
lifts up his hands to those assem-
bled on his good front lawn and with
benign countenance says. let us re-
turn to the old order.
The denial of any desire on the
part Of the American people to go
backward to anything that is past
has been found in practically every
public expression which the people
have been able to make in recent
months.
Joe Bailey in Texas attempted to
induce the voters of that State to
return to normal and the voters de-
cided to send Mr.. Bailey a great
deal further back than that. In
the Alabama primaries Senator I'm
derWood, nominated six years ago by
a majority Of $4,000, found his ma
jority reduced to $4,000 by an cleo
torate that to that extent showed it's
determination not to return to nor
mai. In Colorado Senaor Thomas
declined even to make the effort to
induce the voters to return to normal
by Withdrawing from the race for
reelection. In Oklahoma the nomi-
nation of Scott Ferris for United
States Senator over Senator Gore
was a clear indication of the desire
Of the people of that State to go
forward and not backward. In Penn
sylvania Congressman Dewalt with
drew as candidate for renomina-
ton because Of the expressed de-
termination of the workers of his
district to go forward. Congress-
man Willis j. Rulings of Pennsyl-
vania carried his campaign for "nor-
malcy" to the voters in the primary
election where he was emphatically
repudlated. Congressman Henry j.
Steale in another district in the same
state followed the course adopted by
Congressman Dewalt and withdrew
rather than make what he knew
would be futile effort in behalf of
reaction In Tennessee Congress
man Sam R. Sells was opposed by the
forward-looking forces of Labor and
again the expression of the people
was against going backward and in
favor of going forward.
In Kansas, where Governor Aliens
efforts to bring about reaction have
rivalled the proposals of Senator
Harding, there is every indication of
complete defeat for Allen in No
vember and a realignment of Kan
sas with the forces of constructive
progress. whats the matter with
Kansas" will not be the matter with
Kansas after November 2, in the
judgment of those who are familiar
with the situation there.
Even in the Republican presidential
primaries Senator Harding drew no
popular support. He went to the
Republican convention without the
support of a single solid State dele
cation. He went with but a hand
full Of delegates and with his own
State delegation divided against him.
The whole reactionary position is a
defiance of the people of the coun-
try, Haunted in their faces against
their will and prescribed for them in
opposition to their expressed desire.
When Governor Cox proclaimed to
the country, Il am for progress" he
struck a chord that found response
in every section of the country and
among our people in all walks of life
with the exception Of those who walk
in the ways of great wealth and who
think IN terms Of exploitation, self
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and profiteering.
TO the organized workers of the
country the Democratic party plat
form offers free and full recognition
OF the right of organization, the right
of collective bargaining and the right
to speak through Representatives
freely chosen. The Democratic party
platform also takes it's stand against
"unwarranted issuance of writs of
injunctions 81" Likewise guarantee
ing the right of trial by jury in al
legged contempt cases committed out
side the presence of court"
The platform upon which Governor
Cox is candidate reaffirms the prin-
ciple enunciated in the Clayton law
that the law of a human beinU is not