The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-03-27
PRIVILEGE |: &c AIMS
TO. CHECK LABOR
Seeks to Cripple Work Of Labor
Department and Prevent Nor
nal Activities.
Continued From Page ~

CCNA16 P0VVs VI 1893, PEI yedI' OtAoIo
are receiving $1,000, $500 and $1,000.
few, pitiably small percentage,
receive upwards Of $4,000.
In 1918 congress sought to allevi-
ate the sufferings Of these workers by
giving them a bonus of 1920 per year.
In 1919 this bonus was increased to
$240.
Meanwhile, the cost of living had
increased. A federal research into the
conditions Of American life discloses
that it is impossible to decently MAIN
tain family Of five for less than
$4,000 per year. But this fact had no
weight with congress when it was con-
sidering the plight OF the nations
servitors.
With Unblusning brutality it struck
from the appropriation bill a provision
: continuing the bonus for another year.
Unless it is possible to evoke q hu-
| manitarian impulse in the senate
! many thousands Of loyal workers will
be compelled to go hungry during the
next year or leave the government
service.
! This action is in marked contrast
with the treatment accorded the rail-
roads. They have been guaranteed a
fixed return on an inflated invest
ment. Congress by law assures them
against loss. 1t permits. them to ex-
pend money Without any economy,
and then compels the interstate com
merce commission to tax the people
to make up the deficit and, besides. to
6>eld to the carriers approximately
$1,20o,o00,0oo per annum as profit.
Starvation for the workers--opu-
lance for the interests. That is the
program that has been laid down for
! the guidance OF congress and it is not
devlat1ng from it hairsbreadth.
| Congress defends this action on the
specious plea that the bonus was for
the. war and that the war is over. But
! 1t wasn't over when the coal miners
sought to secure living wage. A
| complaisant federal Judge then per.
Verted law in the interest of the coal
operators.
When the workers have a demand,
the war is still waging with uninter-
rupted fury. When the employers have
a demand, everything is az calm as a.
spring morning. 5
! Trend is to Reaction.
/ Inat the. tide is sweeping forward
TO. reaction is convincingly demon
! strated by: congress- treatment Of leg
I 1slatlon which the workers have at
! stake. ~ Everything that privilege
seeks is given without a question. Ev-
erythlng that labor seeks is denied
ana the little which it hath is SLOWLY
being taken from If.
But there are other straws that
snow where the wind is blowing. Two
recent decisions by the United States
supreme court gave the stock market
Dig boost and brought joy to the
heart of privilege.
inc first decision-rendered by a.
minority of the court-puts an end
TO trust busting" The court declares
tnat the steel trust is :beneficent in
st'eut1on and that the people must not
meade IN It's affairs. The decision re-
verses previous decisions Of this trf-
ounal but that doesn't matter. Courts
are. not under any obligation ia he
consistent.
! Inc antitrust laws have been amas-
culated. There is no barrier to, tho
! rapaclty OF large combinations of cant
.ai' A new law has been set I'D. nv
TOUR OF nine members Of the supreme
court two members having been de-
n1ed vote because they previously
mad denounced the steel trust "a Tho
reverse Of the official decree tust rem
dered.
4 The second decision declares +ha+
STOCK dividends are not income and
there not subject to the incom. tar
law. Corporations whose treasurie.
are bullying with war profits NAV now
proceed to cut melons without let or
n1ndrance. Millions Of dollars that
nad been collected by the government
must be returned to those from whom
II mad been collected.
Stock dividends are shared on,v h,,
those who own the large and profit.
able corporations. Very few workers.
OF small business men get in on them
Ih1s decision, therefore, is plainly not
IN the interest of the masses OF Ameri.
cans. 1t is beneficial to a small min
or1ty-those who are at the ME
counter when these fat pies are cut
and distributed.
History is being made rapidly these