The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-06-26
H0PEDEM0CRATS
WILL DO BETTER
Labor and Liberals Look Long,
in Iy at San Francisco Con.
ventIon for Action,
(Continued From PAGE II

CONTINUED From PATE ~
and smoot are friendly to the vets.
So they wrote a few lines about en-
forcing the law, but refrained from
mentioning the Volstead act. And
then they lost the plank between
their headquarters and the conven-
ton. 1t was never read to the con-
vention, and 10 really not q part Of
the platform, although it will appear
in the official copy.
The Irish also received a jolt from
Senator Watson and his colleague.
Frank Walsh journeyed all the way
from New York to make an eloquent
plea for self-determination for the
"Green ISLE" and Senator BILLY" Ma
son seconded his effort. But tho big
banking interests Of New York have
London branches and they have no
time to waste on Irish republics. So
the resolution went into the discard.
Subtle Jolt for Workers.
II 1t had not been for Senator
Borah the platform would probably
have been more reactionary than it
is. Congressman John I. Nolan, of
California, chairman Of the "labor
group" in the house, also did effective
work in the hope that decent labor
planks might be adopted.
Borah and Nolan succeeded in
preventing the committee declaring
in favor of compulsory arbitration.
but that is as far as they got and the
platform Endorsed the labor provisions
Of the Cummins- Esch bill and sug-
gested that they be extended to all
employees of public utilities. This does
not mean compulsory arbitration, but
it does mean compulsory investiga-
ton, a power which in the hands Of a.
hostile board can be used to do labor
irreparable injury.
Showed Its Hand.
One Of the most interesting fights
in connection with the platform had
to do with the league Of nations pro-
vision.
Senators Borah and Johnson are
"irreconcilab les"--tlat is, they believe
the senate should not ratify the peace
treaty in any form. Here again the
house of Morgan showed its hand.
These great finaciers want the league
Of nations ratified with reservations.
This does not mean that they indorse
the Presidents attitude toward inter-
national affairs. They are for a league
of nations which they believe will per-
NIT them to exploit backward coun-
tries" They argue that tn bankers
of England and Franco are doing it,
and why should not American bank
ers be permitted to get in on the
deal?
"Gum- shoe' Leader on Job.
These financiers were represented
in Chicago by former Senator MUIR
ray Crane, of Massachusetts,. He is
the original gum-shoe artist, and at
one stage Of the game he had a. ma.
jority OF the committee on resolu-
tons pledged to a. plank promising the
ratification Of the treaty with the
Lodge reservations.
About that time Borah and John
son went on the war path, and made
it very clear that il tho convention
declared for the ratification Of the
league Of natfons they would 20 out
OF the Repup!1can party.
They succeeded in forcing a com.
promise, but as a matter Of fact the
compromise does not amount to much.
It was written by Elihu Root and was
full OF 1oopholes. Under 1t, If the Re-
publicans win the next congress and
elect q President they may do any,
thing they see fit concerning a LEAGUE
of nations.
Would Hit Mexico.
Another plank paves the way for
intervention in Mexico. The language
is ambiguous but the oil and smelling
interests know what it means.
Nolan, of California, a johnson sup
porter, introduced 4 resolution con-
demntng the expenditure Of large
sums of money for campaign pur-
poses. 1t was defeated, just two out
Of 4s members voting for it. do not
know Of anything that could give the
people better line on the makeup
Of the Republican national conven-
ton.
Without regard to party. the peo-
pie OF this country resent the con-
duct OF certain interests which have
orazenly attempted to buy the presi-
dency. No one who has the slightest
contact with public sentiment can fail
ia recognize this, Nevertheless. the
members Of the committee on resolu-
t1ons Of the Republican national con-
Ventlon, by vote Of IS to 2, refused