The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-11-12

important domestic problem now be-
fore the American people, was be-
fore the government for considera-
ton, absolutely no attention was
given the fair claims of the work
ers. Congress heard only the COM
mands of Wall street. Railroad la
| Dor was hamstrung and hog-tied
and then Congress proceeded to open
the vaults of the treasury to ex-
plotting railroad managers. The
railroads are guaranteed against loss,
against the ordinary risks of bust
ness, and the workers are hampered
in their legitimate activities.
And thus might be recited indefi-
nitely the discrimination that has
been practiced aga the workers.
| What became of their boosted eco
nomic strength? What did it avail
them when the attorney general was
enjoining the coal miners? OF what
benefit was economic strength when
a Wall street lobby was debating
the provisions of the railroad bill?
What a feeble and futile effort was
made by economic strength when
constituted authorities were abrogat-
ing fundamental guarantees and
driving the workers from post to
pillar during the steel strike! Privi-
lege had secured control of political
power and was thwarting economic
strength at every turn.
Thanks Due to Exploiters
Experience is hard teacher, but
the workers would not learn their
lessons in any other school. Liberal
citizens should be grateful to over
reaching privilege and reaction. The
cerely for giving these concrete ex-
amples of what can be done when
political power is made secure 1t
enabled the minority to control and
dictate to the majority. 1t enabled
that minority to make a travesty IF
law and laughing stock of the bill
of rights. 1t enabled them to do
exactly as they pleased without eff
fective protest or opposition worthy
the name.
Labor has suffered much, but it
has learned much, which is natural
and should be profitable. 1t real
lied, rather too late and to make
effective use of its knowledge, that
| it must contend with privilege and
reaction not on the uneven field of
economies, but in the political arena,
where chances for success increase in
ratio as the workers are intelligently
Informed and wisely guided. In
short, labor now knows to it's en-
tire satisfaction that this cannot be
a government of, for and by the
people until the great mass of peo-
pie have a share in it. And they
cannot have share in it while the
producers permit themselves to be
divided and conquered by their enc
mics.
Prophecy is always dangerous, but
it requires no clairvoyant powers to
say that the knowledge, experience
and encouragement gained by the
workers during the past five months
will be capitalized in future political
struggles. Where labor was united
it put the fear of God into the
hearts of its adversaries. Political
managers made desperate efforts to
draw red herrings across the trail,
but they were only measurably sue
cessful. Scores of Congressman
are willing to testify that industrial
issues were dominant in their par
ticular campaigns. Many were elect
ed and defeated on their records on
the Cummins-Esch bill 1t eclipsed
is interest and Importance the
League of Nations and the personal
tiles and predictions of presiden-
tial aspirants. Upon that single is
sue millions of wokers stated
everything, and where enlightenment
had proceeded far enough the re-
suits have been more than pleasing
Leaven Is Now Working
The leaven of the new philosophy
is working in the great labor move
ment. 1t will increase in strength
and determination during the years.
In 1922 when Congress will again
face the public the workers, a we'll
trained military force emerging
from the hastily drafted levies of
raw, inexperienced political recruits,
will be ready to meet those who
have been too loyal to privilege and
too little interested in the plain peo-
pie.
The workers of England, Italy
and Germany have learned their les
sons too. They have gone into pol
itics on a larger scale than have
American workers. They have re-
allied the futility of so-called eco
nomic power without it's necessary
correlative, political power. They
, learned earlier than we Americans
that those who control governments
also control the people. Wherefore
they have determined to control the
government.
American labor will be denied
its place in the sun, there will be
political social and industrial in-
justice, there will be arrogant waste
and shameful want, there will be in
equality in the making and admin
istration of laws, and there will be
supine courts ready to pervert a
popular mandate when it is wrung
from an unwilling Congress, until
that day when workers, in the ma
jesty of their numerical superiority
and the inherent justice of their
demands, exert to the full the same
zeal and prowess at the ballot box
that they heretofore gwen exclusive
ly to their economic struggles.
Yes, the workers are awake. They
have tested their wings and like the