The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-06-19
WE NEED MORE CARSS.

For more than ten months labor has
been directing attention to the indltfer'
ence of congress to the popular demand
for remedial, constructive legislation.
During all that time it has appealed to
the public to keep an eye on the meth
dds that were being employed at Wash
ington to prevent consideration of leg
islation intended to relieve the pres
sure that now bears with crushing
force upon the backs Of consumers. But
labor received very little support from
the public and congress, disdainful of
labor's advice and contemptuous of its
power, proceed blithely about its bust
ness of meeting the inordinate demands
of special privilege.
Now that congress has adjourned
until December, the public is arousing
itself to its peril, and reactionary con-
gressmen are coming in for some de-
layed but none too gentle criticism.
Newspapers that have been insolent in
defense of big business are inquiring
into the state of the popular mind and
discover, much to their surprise, that
it is resentful and retaliatory. They
want to know why congress refused
to consider bills that would have curbed
profteering, reduced the cost Of living
and made existence simpler for every
American.
Congress did not consider these bills
because it has been chosen by the
profteers and was in session solely to
do their bidding. When big business
asked for anything it was Immediately
granted. Practically every piece Of leg
islation that was enacted during the
past seven months gave enlarged priv
leges to the privilege holders.
The oil and land leasing bill sacri-
feed large areas of the public domain
to spectators. The railroad bill opened
the treasury to the banker-managers
and gave them in addition eight billion
dollars in subsidies. The shipping bill
dispersed the merchant marine and en-
tailed a loss estimated at billion dol
lars, which enriches private shipping
interests at the expense Of those who
bought liberty bonds that the govern
ment might secure ships to carry
troops and supplies to Europe. Valu-
able water power rights were trans
ferred from the public to private in
terests.
That constitutes almost the complete
record of congress. Every bill was
underwritten by big business and sup
ported by powerful Hobbies. Every bill
was directly hostile to the public wei.
fare.
While the representatives. of privilege
were giving time to these measures,
they had no time for the consideration
of bills controlling the packers, reduc-
ing the cost of sugar, reporting the
names Of those who have taken unholv
profits, and other bills designed to curb
the profteers.
The reason congress had no time to
devote to these matters is because the
identical interests that profit from leg
islation enacted have been pro6teering
all along at the expense of the people.
TO contend that congress is repre-
sentative assembly would be absurd. It
is no more representative of the aims
and aspirations Of the people than is
the rottenness of politicians a rehec-
ton of the sound heart Of the American
nation.
Congress has represented exclusively
and to the detriment of the people the
most sordid and corrupt interests. It
has been animated by the motive of
giving to those who have all that they
have demanded, and withholding from
those who have not the little that was
needed to make life measurablv toler-
able.
Unless more districts do what the
Eighth Minnesota district did last year
when it elected w. L. Carss to con-
gress there will be no basis for hone
OF improved conditions next year, or
for many years to come. It is imper-
atively necessary that congress be re-
juvenated with new blood if the few
remaining rights Of the public are not
to be sacrificed, for it today is hope
lessly servile to interests which are
draining the life blood Of the public.
MIR. GoMPERs AND BANKING.