Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-27
GOMPERS ASSA|LS
HARD|NC'S POSITION
Says "Normalcy" Means Going
Backward, While Cox is for
Going Forward.
BY Associated Press to Every Evening

BY Associated PrcSs TO Every EveninR
Washington, Sept. 27.--Writing in the
current issue of The American Federation
under the title Normally. Versus Pro-
gress," Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, says that
Senator Harding has summed up his
position as favoring q return to normal
cy," while Governor Cox, the Democratic
candidate, has declared for ''going for
ward"
Mr.. Gompers also says that the Rcpub
lican National Convention, in adopting
its platform, turned it's back on labor,
and declares that every American work
er, every earnest American citizen, must
strive ardently for the defeat OF those
who turned their backs on labor and on
the people generally"
'i'he two leading candidates for the
presidency have defined clearly their
attitudes toward the great public issues
of the day." writes Mr.. Gompers in bis
article, which was made public today by
the Labor Federation. 'In sentence
each has summed up his position.
'In effect, Senator Harding says
Let us return to normally
Governor Cox says, i am for prog.
ress
Senator Harding does not use the
word normal He speaks of 'nornalcy.
The word is absolete, and so Is the con-
dition to which he would return.
"Unquestionably in the mind OF SEN
ator Harding a return to normal means
a return to the conditions that existed
before the war-a return to something
that is past 1t is clear, then, that in keep
ing with the spirit of the Republican
platform Senator Harding's personal
desire u to follow course that leads
backward and If elected to lead the nation
n such a course.
Governor Cox proclaims a desire to g
forward and determination to lead In
nation in forward course if he is electe'
to the Presidency.
Both of these statements are alb
stractions and of themselves mean moth
ing beyond a definition of the genera
trend of thought of the candidates. Th
important fact IS, however, that the
forms of the parties upon which thes'
candidates stand and their own persons
PHILOSOPHERS lead inevitably and natural
to the conclusions found IN those tw'
brief utterances.
'sThe denial of any desire on the part
Of the American people to go backward
to ANYTHING that is past has been founC
in practically every public expression
which the people have been able 70 make
in recent months"
Mr.. Gompers then reviews the results
of recent primaries IN number of state
and continues:
''The interest Of the great masses o
our people can be best served only b,
the election Of the candidate whose dec
larations and whose record offer th
best assurance of intelligence and integrlt
in the future. 1t is vital that there b
success for the candidate and the plat
form who best understands the needs @
the people and which most fully and mos
honestly pledges their satisfaction.
The Republican Convention 'turne
| its back upon labor and IN so doing turne
it's back upon sll of our people except fo
| that small minority which finds its occr
patton in the exploitation of the masse
through special opportunities and speci'
| privileges.
Every American worker, every earnes
| American citizen devoted 10 the cause {
| human progress, and with faith In Il
righteousness of the principles OF fre'
! dom, justice and democracy must strlv
| ardently for the defeat of those who hav
turned their backs upon labor and upo
| the people generally and for the succe.
| of those who have attempted to meet wit
understanding and In spirit of constru
tive progress the problems of the meek
of the working people and Of the gres
| masses of all our people"