The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-04-02
THE PROGRESSIVE RE-
PUBLICAN PLATFORM
IN WISCONSIN

raCy ever since FlSntlng BOD La
Toilette threw down the gauntlet
to the reactionary powers 20 years
ago.
1t was La Toilette, almost unaid-
ed, who led the fight in the Senate
against Wall Streets Cummins-
Esch bill for the return of the rail-
roads.
Wisconsin opens the fight over
the Republican candidate for Presi-
dent, April 6. That is the date of
the election of Presidential dele
gates. There are two tickets in the
field. One is led by reactionary
Governor Phillips for an unpledged
delegation. The other is led by
Fighting Bob La Toilette, for a
progressive delegation.
Every railroad man in Wisconsin
should roll up his sleeves and get
into the fight. Not alone in appre-
citation of the services of Senator
La Toilette to labor, but because of
the platform which the La Toilette
Progressive Republicans have adopt
ed as the platform on which their
fifteen delegates are directed to
stand.
| That platform is a model. 1t is
a direct assault on privilege. Here
are some of its planks
i. The immediate restoration
of free speech, free press, peaceful
assemblage, and all civil rights and
liberties guaranteed by the Consti-
tuition.
.. The repeal of the Espionage
and Sedition acts, and a denuncia-
tion of any attempt to write such
laws into the permanent statutes
of the country.
3. Opposition to all legislation
, comforting upon the Postmaster
General or any other governmental
agency the power to deny the mail
ing privileges to any person with
out judicial trial.
4. Opposition to compulsory
military service in times of peace,
and the speedy reduction of world
armament.
5. Opposition to the exile of any
person lawfully admitted to this
country, save after conviction by
jury.
6. The abolition of injunctions
in labor disputes.
Z. For laws permitting labor and
farm organizations to engage in
collective bargaining in industry,
trade and commerce.
i 8. Laws for the promotion of
the cooperative movement.
8. THE REPEAL OF THE
CUMMINS- S-ESCH RAILROAD LAW,
AND THE ULTIMATE PUBLIC
OWNERSHIP OF RAILROADS,
STOCKYARD TERMINALS, THE
PACKING PLANTS, AND ALL
OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES.
10. A demand that taxes be laid
upon wealth and not on the backs
of the poor.
II. A denunciation of the usur-
patton of legislative power by
courts, and such amendments to
the Constitution as will provide
for the election of all Federal
judges, including members of the
Supreme Court.
12. The extension of the initia-
tive. referendum and recall to Rep
resentatives in Congress and the
United States Senate.
These are the planks in the Wis
consin platform of special interest
to labor. They are of equal interest
to the farmer.
The $4,000 railroad men in Wis
consin have a platform of resolu-
tions and delegates pledged to fight
for a Presidential candidate SYM
pathetic to those resolutions.
! Railroad men in Wisconsin should
dedicate the next ten days to win
ming this battle. If labor wins in
Wisconsin it will hearten labor in
Iowa. in Minnesota, in Alabama, in
score of other states. If labor
wins in Wisconsin it will prepare
the way for congressional and sem
atorial victories in that state at the
September primaries.
This is the first gun in the great
war. Labor should mobilize its
forces. The railway men especial
+ ly should talk; they should cir
cularize their unions; most import
ant of all, they should go to the
polls on April 6 and put over the
La Toilette progressive Republican
ticket.
Smoke Chas. Sheets CHALLENGE