The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-11-12
HARD LESSONS
LEARNED FROM
THE ELECTION
(By Charles M. Kelly)

Labor'S success in the political
campaign which has just ended is
not to be measured by the number
of friends it has rewarded or the
number of enemies it has punished.
1t is comparatively unimportant
whether the incoming administra-
ton is reactionary or progressive.
1t is equally unimportanE whether
the new Congress is privilege-con-
trolled or devoted to the public in
terest. The determination of the
issues that were advanced for con-
slderation and the selection of can
didates at best are transitory. What
has been done can be undone, and
will be undone if it is disappointing
in its consequence.
The real gain, so far as labor is
concerned, is that it has finally rec
ognized what workers in other ma
tions long ago recognized, namely,
that its problems are political as
well as economic. The encouraging
thing is that the workers realize
that the solution of many, if not all,
Of their problems is at the ballot
box. And with this new knowledge
will come clearer consciousness of
the wonderful potentialities that in
here in collective voting.
1t cannot be denied that labor
made many and serious errors in
its first real effort to gain political
emancipation. Much effort was vast
ed. There was lacking that soil
darity that is essential to effective
political action. But solidarity comes
;,,+1
and that also has been lacking. The
workers generally knew that the
time had come for them to forget
party labels and vote for men and
measures that gave the larger prom
Use of devotion to the national we'll
being. But they did not know how
best to attain their ideal of better
state. Many of them were be-
wildered by a multitude of counsel
Tors. Some were misled by unwse
leaders. Here and there rivalry en-
gendered bitterness that reacted dis
advantageously. But all these mat
tiers are of trifling Importance in
comparison with the major premise
that labor was sincerely actuated
and tried to throw off the CALLING
bonds that hold it in subsection.
Gained From Experience
The one thing that counts is that
labor did try in it's own behalf. 1t
made the first real nationwide eff
fort to impress it's will upon poll
tics. 1t won some notable VIC
tories. 1t sustained some disas-
.trous defeats. But everywhere it
tried, and the value of the effort
is not lost because it tried in
wrong and Intellectual manner. 1t
gained experience that will stand it
in good stead in future struggles.
1t will profit by these experiences.
1t will not repeat its errors, but it
will enlarge and improve tried and
proven methods.
Labor is finding itself politically.
1t has been bartered and traded un-
til millions of workers had de-
SPARED of political emancipation.
Millions of workers are still con-
WINGED that it is waste of time
and effort to engage in political
controversy. They have seen vic
tories turned to defeat, they have
been subjected to- so many betray-
ais, by friends as we'll as enemies,
that many of them had attained
state of passivity and inertia that
seriously interfered with the prog
ress of the recent political venture.
In the past labor has relied almost
entirely upon its economic strength
to redress it's wrongs. But it's
weapon of reliance failed it fire.
quently. Slowly but surely came
the realization that those who con-
troll political power also control eco
nomic power. Those who dominate
the agencies of government also
dominate the destinies of producers.
Economic strength is lame and i'm
potent when facing political strength.
That truth has been driven home TO
the workers in many hard lessons.
They now place less reliance upon
the justice of their cause and the
value of the strike.
How Labor Was Betrayed
Labor has wrung from half-heart-
ed lawmakers laws that were design
ed to improve their condition, to learn
when they were fighting with their
backs to the wall, that such laws
were almost invariably perverted in
Interpretation and administration.
lHey SecuTeu d provision In the anti
trust law which exempted their or
CARNATIONS from interference from
government, to discover that this
provision was nullified by a provis-
ion inserted in the food control bill.
They know now that the pledged
word of men high in government
cannot be taken at face value. They
were lied to when the Lever bill
was being considered. They were
given solemn assurance from the
governments most respon b | e
spokesman that no provision in that
law would be employed against the
workers when they We're making a
lawful effort to secure justice from
unfair and arbitrary employers.
They were serene in the confidence
that the Lever bill was intended only
to protect the people from merciless
profiteering. But in practice the
Lever bill was aimed directly against
the workers. 1t. was employed al
most pxcluSivalv q painst them The