Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1922-10-27

eampaign of unusual importance
is drawing to a close. National ana
.tate officials are to be elected on
tuesday, November Z.
In practically every electoral dis
trirt in the nation the choice lies De-
tween progress and reaction.
Congress is now in the hands OF re-
action: it has performed no service
for the people. Instead it has tried
nv every trick and device to serve pre-
datory interests
There is somewhat popular inn
pression that only those elections are
of supreme importance in which
nresident is to be elected. That is not
the case. This electlon-and every
election--is of supreme importance if
the issue is between progress and re-
action.
Consider the congress as it has
been. Not a single constructive meas
ure has been made into law. On the
contrary, one reactional proposal after
another has been brought forward.
There have been sufficient friends OF
the public interest in congress to pre-
vent enactment into law OF the most
vicious measures, but not enough OF
them to take command and enact con-
structive measures.
Taxation was one of the subjects
that came under consideration by this
congress at an early date. Taxation
may make life bearable or unbear-
able for the masses; it may make the
road smooth and luxurious or little
less easy for the rich. Congress
wanted to remove the excess prohts
tax for the rich and the reactlonary
leaders wanted to impose sales tax
on commodities so as to place the
greater burden on the poor. The re-
dictionary leaders were able to re-
move the excess profits tax and re-
duce the surtaxes for their rich
friends, though they have not yet been
able to impose the sales tax on the
poor. This they hope to do later II
possible. Thus far the rich have
benefited; the poor have to the same
extent been penalized.
The adjusted compensation measure
was another issue involving justice.
Congress made of this measure a foot
ball, seeking to clear its own skirts
by adopting a measure which it knew
would be vetoed by the president.
This is an old, remorseless trick, a
fayorite among politicians. The re-
dictionary leAders in congress have no
Intention of passing a real adjusted
compensation measure that the presl-
dent will sign. They are more inter-
ested in doing favors for bankers than
for soldiers.
The ship subsidy project was
brought forward by reaction as a.
measure for the ostensible purpose of
building up merchant marine. La
Dor Immediately and vigorously ex-
posed the truth about this proposal.
1t was found to be stepped in ini-
qmty OF the most brazen and glaring
KIND. The subsidy proposal was in
Tended to make the government the
hmtless benefactor of powerful prl-
Vate shipping interests. 1t was fur
ther intended to take from the work
efs at sea the rights and the freedom
which had been won for them through
the Seamen's Act.
Compulsory labor was another pro-
position fostered by the reactionary
leaders OF the present congress. They
promised 1t in their platform, it was
heraided again by their sympathetic
attorney general, it was proposed in
Dill introduced by Senator Poindex-
Ier, 1t was urged upon every oct
easlon. 1t did not become law for
ne sole reason that Labor was eter-
hally yigilant and Labor's friends
were ever on the watch.
Teeth" in the Transportation Act
were called for by the reactionary
leaders as soon as the railroad shop
etaIts strike began. Teeth" meant
compulsory labor for the workers and
nc So as you please" for the railroads.
me reactionary leaders in congress
nave been consistent in their hatred
VI laoor, In their determination to de-
pilVe the workers of rights and liber-
aes, IN their envenomed, unenlight-
ened policy of making for the rich
ana powerful a Roman holiday at the
Expense of those who toll
Inc Department of Labor was sub
te'eu TO attack early in the life Of
Ie present congress. Ii was sought
uestroy the one department of the
soNefhment that can be of service to
Sle workers. This destruction was
pa5eVented ta for the time by the vigilant
enOr1s OF Labor and its friends in con-
sieSs. At the same time it was
SR.aahed and proposed to destroy the
apartment of Agriculture, the one
tpaTtment that can be of service to
He farmers. The life of these depart
na.i neH's Is secure only so long as re-
SION can be to some extent held
Soohe labor for the rich and power
~ sugar planters of Hawaii was pro-
su s by the reactionaries in Con-
SsS Sa'S and Tor this measure they
ffought fog most desperately. Coolie labor
~ hawaii, which is American ter
,ts'ofy' would mean coolie labor for
n.s r-.s mainland in due time. 1t was a
StoPosal for an entering wedge of
5iS@p' anassimilable Asiatic labor,
W.. y.S.oas m the extreme, striking at the
eiS foundation of our civilization
h, b,u pur Republic. This was prevented
Laoor's magnificent efforts; the
for f,SsSfe ~ was literally fought to death
'OT me time being.
voinI migration is a question that is
sras sr.ls 70 confront the incoming con-
S,s s,sSs. Reactionary leaders in the
'eA' congress already have shown