The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-10-08
NOnpartisanship
Alarms Anti-Trade
Union Law Maker

| Washington, October limited
/ States Senator Myers term of office
4 does not expire until 1928, but the
/ Montana nonpartisan movement has
gained such Roadway that the sena-
| tor has become a nonpartisan him
self. In a statement issued from this
city he calls on the democratic party
of Montana to support the republican
congressional and state tickets, with
the exception of the nominee for at
torney general.
Montana nonpartisans have wreck
ed the democratic machine, as was
the republican machine wrecked in
North Dakota. Senator Myers is
alarmed as he views prospects for
1923, and while condemning the
nonpartisan leaguers, he advocates
the same method. "This action may
sign my political death warrant"
he says, while moralizing on the
beauties of private life, rather than
surrender his convictions"
Senator Myers well knows that his
political death warrant has already
been signed and the copper trust 8
rule in that state is challenged. His
early pleas to reaction in both par
ties to come to his rescue at the
election two years hence is an elo-
quent testimonial to the power and
the growth of the nonpartisan move
ment and independent voting, first
urged by the A. f. of L.
Senator Myers is not an ordinary
100 per cent American" During
the last session of congress he aver
aged million per cent. Tons of
valuable white paper was used by
the government to print his TRADES
against trade unionism in the Of
fetal record. But not word did he
say against big business, special
privilege, monopolies or profiteers
To these elements the Montana law
makers is an ideal American.
The Montana movement illustrates
the nationwide acceptance of a
theory that has been continuously
urged by organized labor for 40
years.
In Colorado the trade unions, rail
road brotherhoods and farmers
blocked a movement to have the
workers wander off into a separate
group, rather than use their force
as balance of power. These work.
ers then entered the democratic pri-
maries and captured the offices. Re-
action and its defenders are now
shrieking ''interlopers," while the la
bor-farmer combination is arranging
to elect their nonpartisan ticket
United States Senator Thomas heard
the rumble of the coming storm
when he declined to stand for re-
election.
At joint meeting of Tennessee
trade unionists and railroad brother
hoods last week, a statewide nom
| partisan movement was launched
with harmony and enthusiasm The
Connecticut state federation of labor
is another of the later entries in the
nonpartisan field and meetings are
being held throughout that state in
litical program. New Hampshire
| trade unionists are another group
! of later trade unionists that are per-
fectlng an aggressive movement and
arranging for a corps of organized
wor kers to tour that state.
These states indicate the general
activity of organized wage earners
everywhere. The sentiment for in
dependent voting is increasing. La
boris long and insistent demand for
nanpartisanship is bearing fruit.
Citizens in other walks of life now
accept labors viewpoint that candi-
dates must be judged by their re-
cords.
Nonpartisanship is now a national
characteristic and labor is again JUS
titled.