The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1920-06-26

at one time rebelled, leaving Taft
with Utah and another state on his
hands. At one time large part
of the democratic party rebelled, and
caused the defeat of Parker The
great Commoner rebelled at Balti-
more and practically drove the fnan-
cial control of the country from the
democratic party. But here we are
all back again in the same old parties,
with the same problem ahead of us.
And the minority will again win the
election.
Which way will the minority vote ?
1t depends on San Francisco. There
will be a new character of minority
this year-an addition to the indie
pendent, f1uctuating vote that has
heretofore controlled. This time it is
organized labor in one compact mass.
pro-liquor adherents in a we'll or
ganized coterie, and the anti-liquor
people scattered from Maine to Cali
fornia, but likely to take hand as
a unit should occasion require. Any
one of these elements is sufficiently
strong to change the vote either way.
The Chicago convention alienated the
organized labor vote, which hereto
fore has been scattered in all parties.
The liquor question was not touched
in the platform, but the we'll known
position of the presidential nominee
might. be called a sop to the liquor
interests. The anti-liquor people are
promised an enforcement of law,
which might be called bone thrown
to them. Thus the organized labor
question is the one outstanding fea-
ture of the Chicago convention which
might bring a definite result.
The American Federation of Labor
was formed without design of enter
ing party politics. This policy has
been steadfastly maintained, until
within the last years decided
change has been brought about as
result of new conditions. Now the
ranks of organized labor are to enter
party politics as unit. AS
theory this is fine. AS an actuality, it
will not be done. But it is now quite
certain that more than a majority of
organized labor will vote as a unit
and that no party is likely to win the
presidential or congressional election
without this labor majority. At the
present time big business and or
ganized labor refuse to work in har-
mony. Theoretically they ought to
work together. But they don't. BY
it's platform the republican party at
Chicago turned down organized labor,
in effect saying that it were better
to be defeated without organized
labor than to win with promises
which would shoulder the unions on
the backs of the present organiza-
ton. Bryan at one time admitted
that it were better to be defeated
than to be "crucified on a cross of
gold" Bryan was defeated. Pen
rose now objects to the "cross of
labor" And organized labor says
that the Chicago platform shall be
defeated. 1t won't make any diff
ference to the old-time- straight
ticket voter, because he will vote the
same as he did last time, but this
new phase of politics will be inter-
esting to the rebels of today.
There will soon be convention at
Frisco. Labor, liquor, suffrage, big
business, special privilege, and a lot
of other questions will be brought
there for dissection. Bryan says
the democrats have the chance OF
lifetime to put over a winning plat
form and ticket. By that he means
that labor demands can be recognized,
prohibition can be given either an Of
fetal or a tacit o. K, special priv
ilege can be made to retire from any
hope in the party, and man of ad-
vanced thought, progressive ideals,
and recognized fitness named for the
presidency. Bryan used to be called
visionary, radical, an agitator, and
perchance some people deemed him
crazy. However, in the lapse OF
time since the beginning of his po-
litical activities, he has not been so
crazy that he couldn't see his candi-
date twice elected through his efforts,
and his radical" ideas have mostly
become facts, sordid everyday af-
fairs, disgustingly conservative. so
there you are! 1t leads to the ques-
ton of "what is radical"
Whether Bryan's ideas will pre-
vail at Frisco may depend largely
on whether his voice is in good work
ing condition. If the fog gets him,
and he has to wear an extra over
coat around his neck, his unterrlfied
brethren may not be able to catch
the beauty of his voice of wisdom
formerly his "silvery" voice-now an
older voice, but one in which alcohol
has not thus far brought any serious
defect. 1t is also said that in plat
form making he still wields tren-