Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-10-17

w dSIllli5 lOllg wv -1us-OuB OF
the most remarkable features OF
the struggle for the control of
congress is the indifference of
leaders in both political parties to
the organized labor vote.
For the first time in twenty
years the influence usually assert
ed in political campaigns by the
bosses and leaders of trade unions
is conspicuous by its absence.
The chief reason for the mani
fest indifference of congress to-
ward the program Of the organi-
zed trades unions was due to the
conviction OF party leaders and
members of the two houses gen.
orally that public sentiment was
aggressively hostile rather than
sympathetic with the ambitions of
tho organized labor cause.
Aside from Wisconsin, the
trades unions have not exercised
any conspicuous amount OF in.
fluence in determining the re-
suits of primary contests.
The policy used by candidates
for the house and senate in the
present campaign is to dodge pos
tive commitments of a specific
character by generally asserting
whole-hearted friendship with the
ambitions of the organized labor
groups Here and there candi-
dates for the lower house, rum
ming true to form, nave made
open lids for the support OF Ia
Dor by pledging themselves to
support its program in the COM
ing congress.
In Gppraising the causes for the
apparent loss of public support by
the union-labor groups republi-
can and democratic leaders place
first of all public opinion. The
consensus of the professional poll
teal view is that the labor groups
have displayed Grass stupidity in
dealing with the reconstruction
! economic conditions resulting
from the war and have not shown
the slightest sympathy toward
assisting in the effort of the
government and people generally
to pave the way for the return of
an even and normel balance.
The leaders of both parties
have no difficulty in recalling to
the public mind the arrogant at
titude assumed by labor unions
during the world conflict; their
assertion Of MAXIMUM privileges
in the line of profiteering at the
expense of the government and
people; the complete and, in fact.
contamptuous Indifference OF the
professional labor groups toward
the people generally
| IN Tpppnt 1iaCtteg;pn ~
canned labor interests between
two democratic and three repub.
liCan leaders of national rromin-
ence a logical explanation of the
unGriendlp attitude of the publr
| toward organized labor was adj
tante cd by a participant: whose de-
mcauor has been most symputhe-
tic to the ambitions OF industrial
leaders generally. It was sub
stantially that organized abor did
not hesitate during the war TO
subject the average male and fe-
male citizen of the United States
to every form OF Inconvenience
that 4 stupid assertion of profess
SIGNAL privilege encouraged.
THE fact is" said the political
leader---a republican, by the way
that during the war the gov
| eminent took labor by the hand
and coddled it and took the rest
of the people by the throat and
penalized them. Instead of trying
to make friends through an intel
| ligent and moderate exercise of
this power the attitude Of the
average trades uuionist was stu
pidly unreasonable. The unfortu-
nate part OF the history of organ
lied labor during the war was
that the vast majority OF trades
unions were silly enough to seri-
! ously assert justification for Mr..
Gompers' declaration that labor
won the war OF course, labor
did nothing OF the kind as was
! clearly established in the debate
between Gov. Henry Allen of
Kansas and Mr.. Gompers three
years ago.
II believe the people who arc
not connected with trades unions,
but are inclined to sympathize
| with their reasonable ambitions,
became pretty we'll fed up with
tho arrogance displayed by the
| organized groups during the war.
| also believe the people still re-
call the causes resulting from the
exaggerated state of mind Of
which they were the innocent VIC
tins of labor stupidity.
"If the ill-advised coal and rail-
way strikes recently settled or now
in progress of adjustment had
been supported by public opinion
both strikes would have been won.
The fact is, public opinion was
not only unsympathetic, but ag-
gressively unfriendly. The threat