The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-09-09
THE LONDON BILL WILL
TEST THE HYPOCRITES
(Contributed)

Contributed
The good faith of Congress will
be put to test when it disposes of
a resolution now before it appro-
priating $500, 100000 for the relief
of unemployed men and women.
In statement submitted by Sec
retaary of Labor Davis, in response
to a request from Congress, that
official declares that practically
100000 workers are now idle.
In addition. millions are engaged
but part time. Widespread dis
tress prevails. With winter APP
preaching. this situation will be
more acute. Those who profess to
be able to forecast the future have
no hope of an early revival of
trade ann industry BY general
consent it is admitted that the out
look is anything but reassuring.
If anything is to be done to help
matters, it must be done on a large
scale. The piecemeal relief work
undertaken by individual commune
ties does not meet the situation.
The national government alone can
step into the breach and avert
catastrophe developments that are
apprehended.
A pretense of helping the farm
ers has been made. but it is mere
ly gesture. When the legisla-
ton that has been enacted is APP
piled it will likely be discovered
that the promised help of agricul-
turalists is really an extension of
opportunity for the middlemen.
Nevertheless, Congress has felt i'm
PEELED to give heed to the clamors
of farmers and has for the mo-
ment silenced the bitter criticism
that was coming to it from all
sections of the country.
The tax bill and the tariff are
designed to relieve business from
some of its burdens. The latter
are to be transferred to the backs
of the masses.
The railroads are coming in for
most generous attention. They are
getting everything they demand The
half billion subsidy is to be fol-
lowed by other grants, when and as
they are needed.
But the worker has been over
looked. or was ofrgotten until Repre-
sentative London. of New York, Of
fered a resolution appropriating in
it's behalf the identical sum of
money that Congress was handing
over to the railroads. 1t will be
well worth noting the experience of
this resolution as it negotiates the
devious pitfalls of Congress.
If any person imagines that Con-
gress will approve the resolution, or
any similar suggestion, he is a can
didate for an insane asylum. 1t
hasn't a chance. 1t never had a
chance. Congress isn't built that
way. Six million men and women
may continue to walk the streets,
may starve, may fall down and be
lost forever, without stirring in the
hearts of Congressman a sympa-
thetic emotion.
That may sound harsh, but it is
the simple, unadulterated truth
Those who have listened to the de-
famation and villification of work
ers that feature every debate know
how the Legislative and executive
departments of our government re-
act to the cry Of distress-when il
comes from those who toll.
In Washington, in official quar-
tiers, there is a sincere conviction
that workers are suffering for ex-
cesses committed in the past The
average legislator sincerely believes
that he is being compelled to starve
because Of something he did, or
failed to do, during the past three
or four years. To interfere with mat
tiers, therefore, argues your law
maker, would be a transgression
upon the divine perogariva. He Just
simply cannot think about doing
anything to help men cad women
whose only crime is that they pro-
duced abundanrly and created great
blessings and then asked that they
might share some of them.
Wall street gets its billions-the
workers get a swift kick for even
asking for anything That is the
cold, brutal fact Of the matter.
Congress wouldn't appropriate five
cents TO help the workers unless the
money first passed through the
hands of the powerful interests that
maintain large lobbies mere to di-
rect legislation.
Let the worker starve-he's used
to it," is what a majority Of Con-
gressmen tell each other when the
unpleasant subject Of unemployment
o5-rudes. as it viii I'M spite Of any
thing that is done o. sidetrack it.
Billions for privilege. but not a
penny to relieve prigat.0r-that is
the moral perspective Of the back
to-19rmalcy philosophy.