Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1922-03-24
GOAT FESTIVE
FARMERS AND WORKERS RIPE
FOR OPEN REVOLT
They Will Carry Their Grievances to
the Ballot BOX-Active Work is
Already Under Way in Many
Cities and States

Washington, D. C.-There is abun-
dant evidence that the producers Of
the nation-farmers and workers.
are ripe for political revolt. They
are, in fact, over ripe. Next to the
desire to correct at the ballot box
some of the industrial and social ills
that sorely aff1ict them, the average
toiler's strongest ambition is one of
impatience at the delay that must
ensue before he gets a chance to STRIKE
down his political prosecutors.
The overshadowing truth that to
political affiiction must be applied
remedies, it is reasonably safe to say,
has finally been realized and accepted
by workers. To the ballot box,
therefore, they will carry the griev-
ances that have so long been con-
temptuously ignored by the powers
that-be.
The imperatively pressing task is
to let TO faithless Congressman or
Senator, Governor or what not, get
10y the bulwarks of liberal citizenship.
Following closely upon the Chicago
Conference for Progressive Political
Action, called at the instance of the
sixteen organizations of railroad
workers. most encouraging political
manifestations have been recorded in
a number of States.
At recent conference of Oklahoma
progressives a ticket was put in nomi
nation to contest for the Democratic
nominations foy every office from
Governor and Congressman down to
l"ral precinct committeeman.
In Illinois, the State Federation of
Labor has joined hands with pro-
gressive farmers organizations to
capture both the Republican and DEM
ocratic nominal :ons.
In Pennsylvania, rock ribbed ma
chine state, dominated by the Stee!
Trust and the Pennsylvar Railroad,
farmer-Worker organizations are 1T
work setting up candidates to contest
with the reactionaries for che control
OF old party machinery.
Texas is af1ame with political in
dependence and the reactionary ele-
ment there, will have the fight of it's
life keeping its place in power.
In Wisconsin the workers and farm
ers and all good progressive citizens
are solidly back of Senator LaFollette,
whose reelection is now conceded by
his enemies.
Michigan is ready for leadership
that will take is out of bondage. The
friends of Senator Townsend, petted
darling of privilege and betrayer of
the public, will get through if at all
only by the skin of his teeth.
In New York, labor has recently put
it's strength to the test and is en-
couraged by results. The most op-
pressive anti-labor legislation ever
presented to a lawrnaking assembly
q single lawmaker SO bold to do it
reverence.
The instances of independent polit-
ical action here recited do not cover
the list by any means. They are given
merely as illustrative of a trend that
is nationwide. The workers are going
at their job in thoroughly business
like manner. They know that they
have reached bottom so far as any
influence they may possess with the
federal government is concerned. They
also know that if they are ever to get
favorable consideration it will be after
they have demonstrated, in a manner
so convincingly as to leave no room
for doubt as to its meaning, that they
are perfectly we'll able to take care
of their interests when they are in
vaded.
1t is silly for the producers, con-
stituting as they do vast majority
of the electorate, to repine when
things go badly with them. 1t would
be worse than silly to tolerate an al
most vulnerable situation without try
ing to improve it.
1t has been truthfully said that "the
Lord helps those who help them
selves" This is pertinently true when
applied to the affairs of government.
The voters may not be blamed for
bad government unless they permit
it to remain bad. Acquiescence is as
bad as connivance. TO accept tyranny
unresistingly is to give approval the
tyrants.
Labor has learned some bitter les
sons in the school of adversity. 1t
has Jared badly during the past year.
1t has witnessed an effort upon the
part of the political-industrial masters
to reduce it to state of humiliating
impotence. 1t has also noted that their
government has been an active agent
in this conspiracy. From this series
of painful experiences has come the
inspiration for united and effective
political effort, having for its purpose
the emancipation of the oppressed.
Lincoln once declared that when
government was not beneficial to the
people, the people had right to
change. That is all the people can
do, unless they are willing to grin
and bear it.
The workers have done about all
the trimming and hearinQ-With-it that