The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-04-16
LABOR ENTERS UPON
POLITICAL ACTION
(By Charles M. Kelley,

| the ballot box has come TO SrlpS
with its enemies. labor has come
Iout victorious. Contests so far con-
Quoted have been in the main con-
lcerned with local questions, but
the results have been significant,
because they indicate a trend in the
direction of united, effective politi-
cal action by producers.
In the face of determined and
powerful opposition, led by gem
Ierally by chambers of commerce and
business organizations, possessing
ample financial support and cor
portation backing, labor's leaders
Ipolled votes that have opened the
eyes of that reactionary element
which forgot that the war is over
and is seeking to foist intolerable
and degrading conditions upon the
people.
Back of the reactionaries are the
profiteers-the twenty-five thou
sand newly-spawned millionaies
and a veritable plague of near
millionaires who srung much wealth
out of the war While the popular
mind was distracted with the i'm
Iportant responsibility Of preparing
the nation for war, of sending mil
lions of brave lads to Europe and
shipload after shipload of materials
that they might effectually perform
their important mission. privilege
was piling up dropsical fortunes.
Needless to say, much of this
wealth was taken at the expense of
the mass of the people. While we
were making thousands of million
aires. We were sending to bed with
out supper more than 100000
children.
President Wilson during the war
declared that any man who made
wealth out of it would be eternally
disgraced. This never touched the
profiteers. They mulcted the gov
eminent and they robbed the peo-
pie. They piled up profits until the
people today are wildly disconnected
and determined that an almost
hopeless situation shall be redress
ed.
1t is pursuance of this demand
that labor is aroused and militant.
There can be no doubt of it after
the early election contests are
analyzed and the results studied.
In Minnesota primary campaigns
labor candidates were almost uni
formly successful In by-elections
in Maine labor candidates have
been placed in office. In Iowa the
Ilabor-farmer coalition has been
successful. Everywhere a similar
satisfying result is noted.
And this wholesome evidence of
solidarity based upon enlighted
self-interest is not lost upon the
beneficiaries and defenders of
privilege. Presidential candidates
are disbursing funds until they
have produced a national scandal.
1.-The corruption has reached such
proportions that newspapers that
generally support money and previ-
Ilege are unable to control their re-
sentiment In Congress bitter at
|tacks have been made upon candi-
dates who are backed by the new
millionaires, and a growing and in
lsistent demand is being made that
sweeping investigation be con-
Quoted before irremediable damage
has been done.
One presidential candidate, it is
lcharged by the New York World
and Senators Johnson and Borah,
has as tan initial campaign fund
million dollars contributed by ten
Ibeneficiaries OF privilege. 1t is
somewhat reliably stated that one
of the major parties has been guar
Ianteed fund of more than fifteen
million dollars.
The patrioteers are not easy in
their consciences They remember
what President Wilson has repeat
eddy stated and are just a little APP
Ipreheusive that they may not be
permitted TO enjoy in peace their
Iill-gotten boards, They are trying
TO place in positions of power men
who viii regard complacently the
methods that were employed 10
! gouge the public When privilege
spends its money, it demands value
received. The candidates who are
being backed by the millionaires
Ihave promised TO repay their obliga-
Itions in a manner 10 be dictated by
the contributors to their campaign
funds.