The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-03-06
RAILROAD ISSUE
Goes TO PEOPLE
Labor viii Garry Question Into
Presidential Campaign and
Fight It Out.
CONTINUED From Page IL
but labor will win the war. The rail-
road question is not settled. It viii,
not be settled until it is settled right.

not be settled until it is settled right.
To assume that the country will coun-
tenance or accept this legislation
would be to admit lack Of confidence
in the people to defend themselves
against aggression.
II this law remains upon the statute
books, then. in the opinion Of many
students, it is true that liberty has
gone from the land and the day Of the
oppressor is here.
When the true nature Of this legis-
1ation ii revealed to the people-and
1t will be revealed, for the press cam
not always remain silent or deliber-
Ately false-then the reaction will
come, and It will be decisive. When
the public witnesses the spectacle of
Wall street backing up before the
treasury and emptying its vaults, that
It may grow right in the traffic of
loot, it will demand that this wrong
be redressed and that government for
ana by the people be re-esta blished.
Congress has set up government for
= small and powerful class. It has
fgone mad in its loyalty to privilege
II has baited great nation as 1t has
never before been baited.
American labor has definitely
passed out Of the state Of mere wage.
workers. It is unwilling longer to
tolerate the old relationship of master
and worker. 1t wants to give to it's
mind, as we'll Of its hand. It wants
the dignity and the sense Of dignity
that comes from participating to the
fullest in its employment.
Organized labor will now grid itself
for the longer struggle. It is a strug-
sic for full and adequate representa-
ton in the halls Of congress and for
full and adequate representation in
the management Of the railroad indus
try as well.
The fight made by labor in the in
terest Of the public has given birth to
new movement that will never SUBJ
side until emocracy-democracy in
industry and democracy in politics.
has been achieved.
The brutal disregard Of the public
welfare by congress is not without
value. It has aroused labor as never
before to the necessity Of taking effec-
tive political action In defense Of its
rights. It now realizes that there Is
safety only in Intelligent self-interest
and solidarity.
That many Of the stubborn reac-
tionaries have dug the political graves
IL the lesson that they have taken
from the cutlery that followed the
passage Of the compromise bill. When
senator Pomerene announced that he
had decided to withdraw from the
presidential canvass he admitted that
ne was acquainted with the public
temper. He IL not today a candidate
because his candidacy was hopeless.
ne could not have secured the in
uorsement of his own state and he
, knew it And other reactionaries are
painfully noting the indifference Of the
pubic TO the generalities and one by
one will retire from the contest.
Never In the history Of this nation
has congress been less responsive to
the popular will. A majority of tho
members Of both houses are animated
by but one purpose-to further the
Interests of privilege. Not one meas
ure urged by the people has received
any consideration. The bills that are
prepared by Wall Street lobbyists are
rushed through as speedily as possible
Is though the members realized that
The day Of deliverance was coming
space and that the recreant lawmak-
srs would be called to the bar of pub
No opinion to give an accounting Of
heir neglect Of a great trust
Labor proposes to scrutinize the
record OF every member who aspires
10 reelection. 1t will compel others
who have not yet made records to
tate just where they stand on cues
ions Of vital importance to all the
people. None Of them can hope to
get through without producing his
credentials And this. naturally, Is
worrying these gentlemen who were
dashed into voting for Wall street bills.
; Some Of them. it may be said, voted
contrary to their conscience and to
their judgment, but they were COM
mitted and could not easily disregard
the commands of their private en-.
ployers. They feel that they have
ended their public careers, and will
snter"the campaign with little hope Of
winning.
Some Of the members of congress-
who supported rail legislation already