The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1920-03-26
BY Charles NJ. Kelley.

BY Charles NJ. Kelley.
Privilege is itching for a fight with
labor. 1t believes that, with its con-
troll of the government, the courts and
industry, it is in position to definitely
check liberalism. For more than two
years it has been strengthening its
lines in anticipation of Struggle
which it clearly saw was inevitable
Never more convincingly did labor
demonstrate its power than during the
war. 1t furnised the men to fight and
gave them weapons and munitions
with which to fight. 1t supplied a
large part of the funds with which
the war was financed. It endured the
hardsips, made the sacrifices and bore
more than its share Of the burden,
While privilege was piling up dropsi-
cal war profits.
But, while labor was giving Of its
best to the enterprise, it was also do
ing some thinking. For one thing, it
learned its power 1t realized that
productive industry is the mainstay
and reliance of the world
Somewhat grudgingly privilege
made concessions to labor. The sup
ply of workers was less than the de-
mand Employers, with large cost
plus contracts, were compelled to go
into the market and bid for workers.
Labor was invited to sit into confer
ences at which were determined war
and domestic policies. Labor was
given a place in the peace counsels.
Verify, it seemed that the lion of
privilege and the lamb of industry
were at last to realize the Biblical
prophesy
But the lion concealed its real emo
tions. 1t didn't like the way things
were going. 1t didn't like, for in
stance, the way labor unions were
gaining in membership, power and
independence 1t didn't relish the idea
of having men in overalls sitting about
long tables, advising and counseling
with captains of industry how ships
should be built, how railroads should
be run and doing other things that
from time immemorial have been re-
garded as the sacred prerogatives of
capital 1t was little too much of
that democracy thing for which the
world was being saved
Democracy, they agreed among
themselves, was a good talking point,
but it must never be translated into
actuality The "divine right" theory
had gained too firm foothold to be
dislodged so easily. So privilege, bid
ing its time, planned to put the work
ers back to their places just as soon
as the world had been saved From its
vast war profits it laid aside large
sums with which to carry through its
program And it is now ready to de
vote millions of dollars to the rather
large task of breaking up labor organ
izations and forcing labor back into
the status of feudal seldom.
Privilege has an ambitious objec.
tive. It plans to take over the gov
ernment and operate it in its own in
terests. 1t plans, by very repressivt
measures, to hogtie the great mass o.
workers and liberals and make il
mighty unprofitable for them to pro
test.
Labor finds itself at distinct dis
advantage in that privilege actually
controls the present government
Congress is as servile nj its devotion
to privilege as the most obstinate O
reactionaries could demand. A ma
iority of its members could not b
more completely subject to Wal
street dictation were they actually OF
the payrolls of the financial grouI
which is running the country. TIL
invisible government is no longer in
visivle. 1t came squarely out in th'
open on the railroad question, TIL
issue there was clean cut and unequi
vocal. Those who voted for retur,
of the railroads to Wall street were
naturally, on the side of Wall street