The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-05-15
CARsS FOE CONGRESS.

district did hne stroke OF business
when its representatives, meeting in
conference last Sunday afternoon, in-
dorscd Congressman William L. Carss
for reelection and left it to Mr.. Carss
to use his own judgement as to whether
he should run as an independent or
as Democrat.
The Democrats Of this district have
not been very keen in the past about
nominating candidate for congress.
The district was regarded as hopelessly
Republican and when an occasional
Democrat was induced to make the
run against Republican candidate he
was badly beaten. Two years ago no
Democrat was nominated. Labor was
not satisfied with Congressman Miller
or his record in congress. It concluded
to name an independent candidate
against him and after considerable de-
liberation Mr.. Carss was induced to
give up his position as a railroad e;,gi-
ucer and enter the race.
Political wise-acres declared the case
hopeless. Mr.. Carss, they said, didn't
have ghost of a chance. But labor
organized politically and started an ac-
grcssive campaign that made the Old.
timers sit up and take notice. The
result Of that election is we'll known.
1t resulted in the defeat of Mr.. Miller
and the election Of Mr.. Carss, who was
known to every person who cast vote
for him as Democrat in national
politics.
In Washington Mr.. Carss lined up
with the Democrats on purely political
issues. He entered the Democratic
caucus. He voted for Democrat for
speaker, and with the majority Of thy
Democrats in the house on every politi-
cal issue that came before congress
during his incumbency. He never way
cred once. At the same time he voted,
rs he was expected to do, in favor of
every labor measure that was acted
upon during this and the special SEES
sion. His record as labor man anil
as Democrat is hooper cent.
In determining the course that should
be followed at the coming election as
to whether he should become candi-
date for reelection as al independent
OF Democrat a good many things had
to be taken into consideration. The
principal object is to win. Many of
Mi. Carss' friends believed he would
stand better show as an independent
candidate, provided there was no Dem.
ocratic candidate against him. Others
have all along held that as he was
known as Democrat he should run
as one. Mr.. Carss entertained this
view, but there were a good MANY
clements to reconcile before finally de-
terrining the matter.
There is no reason under the sun
for Democratic opposition to the re-
election of Mr.. Carss It is admitted
that every American citizen has a right
Ito become a. candidate for any office
TO which nc may aspire. We have no
quarrel with Mr.. Hubert d 'Autremont.
who has filed for the Democratic nom-
1nat1on and who will be a candidate
In the primaries against Mr.. Carss, but
we claim the right to appeal to the
Democrats Of this district to return =
man to congress who proved a winner
two years ago, and whose record as a
Democrat in congress is one Of which
any loyal member Of the party may
we'll feel proud.
OF course, we know there are "wet''
Democrats, who are "wet' above
everything else, who are opposed to
Mr.. Carss because of his vote in favor
OF the Volstead act which was in com.
pllanee with his oath to "uphold and
support the Constitution of the United
States,' but that fact should not di.
vorce him from any man who puts
principle above appetite.
The real labor men and liberals Of
this district need MI. Carss in con
gress. There are bigger questions than
two and three-quarter per cent beer to
solve, and the people are crying TO,
their solution. This congress has been
one Of negation. It has vetoed every
progressive bill that has come before
it. There are only a few outstanding
men there like Mr.. Carss who have
stood on guard for the people. We
need more and there is little hope 70,
stopping industrial unrest until a suf.
fcient number Of congressman and sen.
ators are elected that will do things.
A. 1t is charged that this congress i.
sverburdened with lawyers. They arr