The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-07-02

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committees in states where senator:
are to be elected, while congressional
committees will be formed in ever!
state, and in every congressional dis
trict as well.
The American Federation of Labor
has had satisfactory response to Its
appeal for non-partisan political eff
forts. Committees are being formed
at the rate of a hundred a day, anC
already more than 1000 men hav,
pledged their earnest effort in cam
paigns being conducted in ever!
state. The records of congressman
and senators are being read at meet
ings of every lodge in the country
numbering $4,000. A million and ;
half pieces of literature have beer
ers are being sent broadcast, wher
they are needed to inform the voters
of the conduct of their representa-
tivees at Washington.
Reactionaries Eliminated
Scores of reactionary congressman
have been eliminated in primar,
campaigns. Other scores have beer
nominated, but by such unstable ma
jorities as to make their defeat al
the election measurably certain. La
Dor intends during the summer anC
early fall to strengthen its lines, tt
conduct an intensive educationa
campaign and to supplement these eff
forts with personal solicitation anc
investigation by thousands of trained
labor workers.
There are hundreds of speakers II
the labor movement who are avail
able for platform work. They will bt
sent where labor has a fighting
chance. No congressman who has
been recreant can hope to escape at
tack, and if he wins he will at leas
know that he has been in a fight.
Labor realizes fully that it can
not depend upon promises made t.
be broken. 1t must defend itself by
placing in the halls of legislation mer
who think with labor and feel with
it and sympathize with its many anC
multiplying grievances. Bankers anC
spectators have a strange -hold Oh
the government, but it can be broker
if the workers will unite for a com
mon end. That they are. uniting i:
evidenced by many activities that are
ton wide, non-partisan political cam
paign.
Cummins Pyrrhic Victory
Senator Albert f. Cummins ha.
been accorded the Republican nomi
nation for senatorship from Iowa
but he is getting no consolation from
the fact. Like that famous old Pyr
rhian general, he knows that anothe
such victory will mean his finish.
Cummins opponent in the primary
Smith Brookhart, six months ago wa
scarcely known in Iowa politics
Backed by workers and farmers, hi
entered campaign that was re
garded well-nigh hopeless and fo
several weeks gave Cummins and hi.
big business supporters no concern
Then they awakened to the extent o.
the movement against reaction ant
during the latter weeks of the cam
paign expended large sums of money
and called upon leading Republican!
from all over the country to come tt
Cummins' aid. This Macedonian or,
brought Senator Kellogg and forme
Senator Clapp, of Minnesota; forme,
Secretary of the Treasury Leslie NJ
Shaw, and others of like promi
nence to the rescue.
When the smoke of battle haC
cleared Senator Cummins was nomi
mated by a majority of 100000 Hi
opponent had polled more votes thar
were cast for Cummins six years ago
when he won by a majority of more
than 10000. That nearly 100000
Republicans of Iowa are dissatisfied
with Cummins is one of the most sig
nificant developments of this year
politics. 1t means that at the No
vember election, if his Democratic op
ponent is worthy, Cummins will b.
turned back and permitted to resume
the more placid cares of private life
Two things contributed to Cum
Minis nomination. A late spring pu
the farmers back with their worl
and they could not be induced t.
leave their farms at a time whel
their labor was imperative. In tn
larger cities organized labor did no
give Brookhart the support that hi
cause merited. The Transportation
workers and the miners made a mag
nificent demonstration of solidarit,
and strength, and had other worker
been similarly imbued with a deter
mination to replace Cummins hi
mandate would have been recalled.
1t is planned to continue the cam
paign against Cummins through tn
summer. In November the farmer
will have the time, as they now hav
the disposition, to express their hos
tility to Cummins. The efforts bein,
made to align labor will unquestion
ably be successful and the centre
which gave Cummins his largest vot
will witness a sharp reversal
Cummins is the author of tn
transportation bill and sought t
enact an tnti-strike law. Heretofor
he has been supported by labor, be
cause his record was creditable. Dur
ing the past sixteen months Their
has been a complete right-about fac
by the senior senator from Iowa an
today he is just as devoted in hi
advocacy of privilege and in his de
dense of the profiteers as he ono
seemed to be sincere in his loyalt
to progressive principles.