The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-10-22
PLUMB PLAN
WEEKLY LETTER
BY CHARLES NJ. KELLEY


for something just as important aft
er election 1t is automatic that
those who control the political power
also control the economic power,
and big business realizes this if
the workers do not.
If privilege and reaction win at
the polls, those who profit by keep
ing conditions as they are. will be
ready for another line of attack. In
fact, the campaign is under way and
finds it's most frequent manifesto
ton in so-called "open shop" cam
paigns, Americanization crusades
and educational" efforts that seek
to impress the public mind with the
thought that the workers are slack
ing production and are responsible
for our economic ills.
A recent survey developed the dis
quieting information that in more
than 100 American cities organ
izations Of employ yers, Chambers Of
Commerce and public utility cor
porations have pooled their interests
and resources for a smashing assault
upon organized labor. Impetuous
leaders in this conflict have been
inpatient Of restraint and have
launched their campaign before the
master minds" were ready for it.
1t is no secret that big business
expects to secure a strangle hold
upon the government. They expect
to elect a president and safe majori-
ties in congress. 1t expects to name
the cabinet and other administration
officers. 1t expects, in short, to
have things its own way, and will
be in position to do just what it
deems necessary to secure the sus-
cess Of its program.
That program is brutally simple
and brief. 1t contemplates the sub
jugation of labor. 1t would take
from labor the rights it has gained
through long, bitter struggle, espe-
the war. Business is united on that
point. The workers must be beaten
back, and they must be attacked
through their organizations.
Back of this movement is the
United States Chamber of Com
merce, which in turn is backed with
the money of big business. 1t is
the motivating force of the almost
epidemic growth of opposition to
labor organizations in all sections
of the nation Its leaders declare
that the union" is a menace to the
liberties of the public, and they have
set out, and frankly declare their
purpose, to destroy unionism and
take their only effective method of
protest against intolerable conditions.
Need of Political Action
The workers, undoubtedly, will be
ready and willing to meet any at
tack that may be made upon them
in spite of bitter opposition. The
issue must come, and no good pur-
pose will be served by delaying this
test of strength. But great deal
of suffering and sacrifice can be
avoided if the workers, animated by
an intelligent self-interest, will take
advantage of their opportunity to
definitely establish their status by
impressing their will upon govern
ment. They have the power to com
pletely dominate the next congress
and name the next president.
If privilege loses its political ad
vantage it will be inclined to test
its economic power. Without the
former the latter is practically use
less. The workers have had this
fact driven home to them in many
uneven struggles. The forces Of
government, arrayed against the
workers, have resulted in the defeat
of any legitimate aspirations and
just demands for better conditions.
l,, Lot 4a 1pf,
the workers find that after Novem-
Der that they are forced to fight an
unequal fight, for that would imply
that they had been negligent of their
own interests and refused to defend
themselves when defense would have
been easy and profitable.
1t is regrettable that the millions
of producers of this country cannot
be persuaded to look at conditions
-as they exist. If they had a proper
appreciation of what the future has
in store for them they would not
permit an election that means so
much to them to go by default.
They would register and they would
vote-in such overwhelming numbers
that privilege would know for a
certainty that the large vision and
consciousness of the workers of the
world will not tamely brook a re
turn to feudalism or accept without
protest an attempt to reestablish
decadent and barbarous system.
If the masses were as wise as the
classes, there would be no classes.
The moment the producers know that
economic slavery follows political
nominations, just that moment will
they exert to the full their over
whelming political power and make
an end, once and for all, of mis-
chievous and misleading campaigns,
no matter how labeled.
ReactiOnaries in Trouble
The reactionaries are not having
things their own way. Here and
there throughout the nation the
workers and other liberals are on
guard, and they are seeing to it
that some faithful servants of big
business are being put where they
cannot possibly do any harm to the
public.
Senator Irvine L. Lenroot, who
supported the Esch- -Cummins trans
portation bill, came through by
small majority at the recent primary
election in Wisconsin. because the
opposition was divided. But Mr..
Lenroot is in for another hard fight,
with his chance of winning greatly
diminished.
James Thompson, who was run
ner-up in the general primary, has
announced himself as an independent
candidate in opposition to Lenroot,
and he has the backing of Senator
La Toilette and his supporters. The
democrats have named DIR. Paul S
Reinsch, former minister to China,
and the socialists have named Frank