The Seward gateway., 1922-12-26
THE PEOPLES BLOC

The rPeoples Bloc" " headed by Sen ator Lafollette and certain other radi- calls who now think they are, in the ascendency, has ended it's conference at Cleveland with a decision not to organize a third party, but to capture the primaries of the two old parties, if it is possible to do so, so the peo- ple's rights will be wrenched from the wolves of Wall St:eet-who now. own and finance the two major parties.
 The peoples bloc, in it's self-right- cousness has formulated it's "progres- sive" program to thwart the reactlon- arv plots of those now in control. It demands repeal of the Esch-Cummns railroad act, which was aimed to place the railroads on a business footing al fer tbev had been taken from the blight of government operation; pub lie control of water power; direct cleo ton of the president and vice presl- dent: that congress end the practice of the courts in declaring legislation unconstitutional; enactment of a bill which provides payment of soldier bonus by taxes on excess incomes, and legislation providing minimum stand ards of employment for women.
 Judging from this program the state of the nation is truly pitiful. It is rap idly headed for the bow VOWS. If all these measures were enacted into law think what a remarkable change 1t would bring about in our national gov ernment and national society. We would have a veritable Utopia.
 Without going into the record even of the present congress, which has placed much needed legislation in the statute books-most of it of far great CT value in promoting the interests of the nation than that proposed by the peoples bloc"-one may contrast the "progressive" platform with that now before the country. In his message to congress last week President Harding outlined some of the legislation he deemed needful to advance the we'll being of the government. He called for real enforcement of the prohibition laws, urged an amendment to the con stitution giving congress control over the child labor; Sought legislation au- thorizing more extended credit to the farmers, including the creation of division of the federal land banks to deal with production credits if neces- sary; pleaded for coordination of all transportation facilities; asked for ab- | olition of the labor board and creation | of a department of the interstate con- merce commission to deal with wages | and railroad controversies likely to result in strikes; urged law requlr- ing the registration of all aliens and | asked for favorable consideration of immigration and reclamation projects. ! He probably will deal with eqally i'm portant subjects in the near future, and incidentally it is known that he favors a soldiers bonus, if some pro- vision fof paying it is worked out.
 Possibly the presidents program is not perfect. It may not be complete l Part of it may not be flawless. But if it is stood up and paralelled with the platform of the peoples bloc," how much of it will be found to bear the labed reaction? In truth, is the pro- gram of the peoples bloc" if put in- to law, any more likely to advance the interests of the country at large than that of the presidents? Or, if choice had to be made between the two, isn't that of MT. Harding's the more com prehensive and more far-reaching and would it not go farther to solve the immediate problems facing the coun- try today?
 Political buncombe never got the