Arizona republican., 1920-08-29
Senator Hardina .nd .h. R.IIre.d werl.r.

 ]. It took good deal of courage on the part of Senator Harding Friday to defend the Cummins- Esch law at place like Gallon Ohio. Though not large city. it is important railroad center and its population largely up workers Yet. appears the dispatches that many of the workers congratulated the senator his spirited defense of the legislation which told them had been enacted not for the benefit of class, but for the whole people.
 Senator Harding spoke. perhaps with greater freedom and confidence. knowing that between himself and Governor Cox the controversy would be one-sided one, and that there would be reply. The governor has himself to be appellant to class prejudice. almost the point of demagosy estopped his recent wholesale endorse tnent President Wilson's policies, for in the Cum rnns-Esch law incorporated of the policies of the president. Governor Cox is therefore bound Accept that though he win not be heard to defend it.
 The American Federation of Labor sought first to the anti-strke clause of the law repudated by the republican national convention. It knew very well in advance that there would be repudation but part of it's so-caiied non-partisan pro- gram make application to the convention. But 1t reasonably that it would succeed at the San Francisco convention. But that convention however it may have desired to bid for the of organized labor and whatever it may have thought of the policies of President Wilson generally. not going so far repudiate important act of his Tn fact it swallowed others much more dif ficut of digestion
 The objection of the workers to the Cumnnins- Esch law lies only against the anti-strike clause. that objection of the rank and file though the extreme radical element and the astators also op- pose 1t because it otherwise favors the railroads. though not the expense of labor.
 But down in their hearts we do not doubt that many thousands of railroad workers favor the anti strike clause The average worker not want lak . never pays. Under this law any grievance he may have is a grievance for the removal of which the government is responsible. The worker cannot be oppressed by his employer. Any question of work ing conditions in the last analysis must be settled by the government. This arrangement hurts no one but the agltator the labor leader, shorn of his power to prey alike upon the roads and his own following.
 It is only theoretically that the antistrike clause converts the worker into a slave" Without it he would be practically a slave his leader who could command him work remain in idleness.
 The Curnrnins-Esch is of course. open objections, the serious being its invasion of the rights of states its undermining of powers of state railway and public utilities commits sions, reducing almost nulty their roads within their borders is But that objection of direct interest to the average citizen, whether he be worker or an en- pIoyer; to the farmer the merchant.
 railroad think will be a great talk ing point for the republicans. As we have said thousands of workers will secretly welcome it a means escape from the tyranny of their Farmers shippers and generally will hail it as relief from conditions in which group of men tie up the transportation system the country
 It would be as good a talking point for the democrats if they dared it. It is not a party law But Governor Cox dare not extol it any more than he dare condemn it. The democratic party is reasonably sure the extreme labor vote. It will not risk the alienation of it.