The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-09-27
Samuel Gompers Compares Rec
ords of Two Candidates Tor
Labor Adherents.
NORMALCY VS.. PROGRESS
Cox Has Determination to Lead
Nation in Forward Course ii
Elected President.
(Hy Associated Press.)

Washington, Sept. 26.-Writing In
the current issue of the American
Federationist under the title Nor
malcy VS.. Progress" Samuel Gompers'
president of the American Federation
of Labor, says Senator Harding, the
republican presidential candidate, has
summed up his position as in favor OF
going backward while Governor Cox
the democratic candidate, has de-
clared for going forward
Mr.. Gompers also says that the re-
publican national convention in ADOPT
ing its platform turned 1T back on Ia
Dor, and declares that every Ameri-
can worker, every earnest American
citizen must strive ardently for the de-
feat of those who turned their backs
upon labor and upon the pepole gen.
orally.
THE two leading candidates for the
presidency ave defined clearly tneir
attitude toward the great public issues
of the day." says Mr.. Gompers article
which was made public today by the
labor federation. I'm sentence each
has summed up his position.
Tn effect Senator Harding says let
us return to normalcy
senator Harding does not say the
word normalcy; he speaks of normal
CIV. The word is obsolete and SO is
the condition to which he would re-
turn, Unquestionably in the mind or
Senator Harding return to nominal
means a return to the conditions that
existed before the war-a return TO
something that is past. 1t is clear
then that in keeping with the spirit OF
the republican platform Senator Hard
ings' personal desire Is to follow g
course that leads backward, and IL
elected to lead the nation in such a
course.
governor Cox proclaims desire to
go forward and a determination to lead
the nation in forward course IL he
is elected to the presidency.
Both of these statements are alb
strations and of themselves mean
nothing beyond a definition OF the
general trend of thought of the can
didates. The important fact, is now
ever. that the platforms of the parties
upon which these candidates stand and
their own personal PHILOSOPHERS lead
inevitably and naturally up TO the
conclusions found in those two brief
utterances.
.aThe denial of any desire on the part
of the American people to go back
ward to anything that is past has been
! found in practically every public ex-
preston which the people have been
able to make in recent months"
Mr.. Gompers then reviews the re-
suits of recent primaries in number
OF states and continues:
THE interest of the great masses or
our people can be best served only by
the election of the candidate whose
declarations and whose record offer
the best assurance of intelligence and
integrity in the future. 1t is vital
that there be success for the candi-
date and the platform wich best un-
derstands the needs OF the people and
which most fully and NOSE honestly
pledges their satisfaction.
tThe republican convention turned
its back upon labor and in so doing
turned its back upon all of our people
except for that small minority which
finds its occupation in the exploitation
of the masses through special oppor-
tunities and special privileges.
Every American worker, every
earnest American citizen devoted to
the cause of human progress and with
q faith IN the righteousness oA thS
principles OF freedom, justice and
democracy must strive ardently for
the defeat of those who have turned
their backs upon labor and upon the
people generally and for the success
of those who have attempted TO meet
with understanding and in spirit OF
constructive progress the problems OF
the needs of the working people and
of the great masses Of all our people.