The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-08
Cox, GOmbers,
The Labor Vote

Mr.. Gompers having decided tina
Gov. Cox Is a friend OF labor and tina
Senator Harding is not, a large party o
| the democratic press Is ready to assur,
its readers that this statement does no
mean "dictation" to the workingman al
TO how he shall vote, but simply givinl
tho governor what is due him The re-
publican writer's, however, declare tina
the head OF the American Federation o
Labor IL trying to deliver the labol
vote" because he is partisan demo
crat; and this. they claim. can't bt
done.
THE laboring man does his owr
thinking" says the Washington Post
Qnd): he does not want or require
a committee to tell him how to vote
and the Buffalo News (Rep.), which ex-
presses no surprise in Gompers' action
since he has always been a partisan
democrat" believes that he does not
voice the opinions" of the working men
and women of the country and there is
reason to believe that organized la
Dor is more favorable to the republ-
can party than the democratic" The
Pittsburgh Press Qnd) doubts the
labor leaders influence:
SYMPATHY With Labor.
The Memphis News Scimitar Qnd)
considers that Gov Cox's record alone
shows him lin complete sympathy with
labor" and believes that he will profit
tremendously by the labor vote for this
reason. However, 1t adds:
There is another phase which even
the most earnest union labor advocates
will not overlook and that is the recog-
nized prejudice among farmers and
business men against anyone who is
whole heartedly in sympathy with
union labor"
Although the workmen's vote will
be an asset Of Importance" in the opinion
OF. the Raleigh News and Observer
Dem.) 1t does not accept It without
certain reservations:
Labor has not been uniformly ad-
mirable in its attitude during the post
war period. The party which seemed
most disposed to discipline the union
forces would be popular with consider
able element. But it isRell recognized
that without its organization labor
would not ever have obtained it's rights
and in spite of its faults, sympathy with
labor is not confined to its own ranks"
A conservative estimate OF the value
OF the labor committees report is made
by the Boston Globe Und) which admits
that the effect of this declaration can
be overestimated. of course, since the
labor vote can never be delivered en-
masse," but 1t Is a logical result OF a
comparison of the two candidates rec
would have been glad enough to have it,"
The majority of the newspapers, how
ever. which support Gov Cox, accept
the labor vote as the just and logical
reward for the accomplishments set
down In his record. Commenting on the
Journal Dem.) declares that the
praise Is. deserved" for the list includes
many vital improvements" among
them compensation act, regulation of
hours for women. prevention against ac-
cident and occupational disease. The
Charlotte IN. c. Observer Und. Dem.)
considers that the report is IA light to
doubt. of the fact that its vote will fol-
low the light" and, 1t adds:
1T might also be claimed with good
reason that it will serve as guido for
the conservative element in the pro-
gressive party"
Even capital, the Augusta Herald
IDem) suggests, seems to be favorably
impressed:
Labor finds Cox more friendly than
There Is nothing strange
about that. Look little further and
you will find the preponderane of dis
tributed capital in the same fix. 1t is
only bloated industries and protected in
terests that have special privileges that
up to the front porch"
, Harding Toady to Wealth. -.
The TT. Worth Journal Gazette
(Dem.) speaks with even more en-
phasis on the same theme:
His (Mr Harding's) attitude toward
labor. Is naturally that of a man who
plays the toady to wealth. He and his
kind have repeatedly demonstrated their
Inability to deal with industrial disputes
without adding fuel to the fire."
With this sentiment the Harrisburg |
Patriot Gnd. Dem) seems to be in
agreement. for, 1t states. Harding's
political doctrines are "the full blow
expressions of the materialst. prop
erty rights. as against human rights"
On the other hand, 1t believes that Gov.
Cox's record shows him as believer
that labor is not commodity. that It
too. has human ambitions and Its life
IN live