Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1922-02-24
LETTER FROM BRO. RILEY.

The following letter from an old
friend and subscriber, Lee A. Riley,
formerly molder at the Wehrle plant,
but of recent years working in Lans-
ing, Ohio, will be read with pleasure
by his many friends in this city:
We think the working men of this
country are better qualified to vote
than the same class of men who are
citizens of the United States. Our
is regulated by states instead of ma
tional uniform laws, thus enabling
states which desire to increase their
population to extend the advantage
of shorter period Of time to entitle
them to vote, thereby strengthening
and enabling capitalists to inf1eunce
and control political issues. The DOM
mating wish of the average native
voter is for the great good of our
country and it's people, while the CEN
tralization of capital and capitalistic
interests influence the opposition fac
tors. When changes of control are
contemplated the party platform
pledges are closely studied, and the
good and bad influences are worked to
the limit. Localities and states change
fronts and the victor rejoices in
hopes of better times. Disappoint-
ment follows and the conservative
voter realizes that he is playing the
part of a shuttlecock, being batted
from party to party. This condition
will continue until men drop party
allegiance and vote Independent of any
party. A close consideration of the
conditions affecting the working man
will convince any sane man that it is
time to think and act when oppor-
tunity presents itself.
Officials in charge of national af-
| fairs appear to be so deeply con-
cerned in the affairs of the old world
as to overlook conditions at home,
among their constituents who intrust-
ed them with authority to legislate
for the best interest of the people of
the United States. There appears to
be deluge of conferences Of commit
tees, resolutions and appropriations
for the benefit of the foreign unfor-
| tunate, while every labor center is
teeming with agitation, idleness, Slf-
fering and want of the necsesaries of
| life. The return of prosperity has
come to the favored few, the million
aires, the government apointees, the
spectators and the profteers, but the
working men are confronted with high
rents and reduced wages; some with
little work, some with no work at all.
Submission is enforced by military
force, men, women and children are
camped out in shelter tents, subject
to the rigors of winter and while mil
lions are contributed to Russia and
other unfortunate nations, nothing is
done for home sufferers.
The drift of the labor vote in the
last national campaign was brought
on by a desire to secure some of the
benefits promised by the Republican
party, and the result enabled that
party to fulfill their promise. Time
and opportunity sufficient has elapsed
to define the attitude of the majority
relative to the equalization of privi-
leges in accord with the principles of
our government. The NAL administra-
tion of control in the coal fields of
| West Va. appear to be totally ignored,
but an open protest of the miners is
promptly suppressed. Laws to make
| it penal offense to strike are favor
ably considered, all of which justifes
the belief that a system of slavery
is to be introduced in this country and
unless we change the character of the
men sent to congress no hopes of
working class will be realized We
should be represented by working
men instead of professional men or
capitalists. l note that the women
4 are endeavoring to break into con-
gress, and we should emulate them in
similar efforts. We find people con-
fronted by appalling conditions, taxed
to death, Hooverized to starvation linn
its, almost reduced to the condition
of the prodigal son, eating husks with
tine hs swine a IN the name OF economy hGb
places are scattering millions of dol