The labor world., 1922-12-30

appeals to the hearts and Souls OF
the people themselves. That issue is
the abolition of special privilege, de-
clares J. A. H. Hokins, chairman of
the Committee Of 4S, in a statement
issued this week from the national
headquarters Of the committee in
New York.
-. Mr.. Hopkins makes it clear that if
q '.Aird party is to be formed in
Nv erica it must be free from class
distinction and should be as broad
as humanity itself in its breadth
and scope. Only such party Is
worthy of success.
The political murk and fog
through which we have been crop
ing for a generation has been dis
sipated Dy the dawn of a new era
says Mr.. Hopkins. Under its search
ing rays and the heat Of public con-
lemnation the old order is disap-
Jearing, and the advocates of Spe-
cial Privilege are shrivelling into
nOthingness.
I'm the light of the rising sun of
hope and inspiration the mandate
Of the American people for new
and regenerated political party
pledged to progressive principles
having for its object the greatest
good for the greatest number stands
out clear and distinct. This man
date comes from no special class.
The voices of the worker, the far
mer, the salaried clerk, the small
business man, and the professional
group, have merged into one clarion
call for united action.
"The mandate has come from the
vast majority of those misnamed
Republicans and Democrats who, in
tho absence OF any other choice,
have perfunctorily dropped their
ballots in the box Of the major par
ties 1t has come from the impress
si, silence Of the so per cent of our
c.ectorate who, as between two evils,
have chosen to deny themselves the
right to vote rather than to place
their stamp of approval upon either
one Of the two parties, equally de-
void Of principal and ~ both
controlled by the same selfish flnan-
cial interests.
1.-The American people want no
half way measures. They are de-
manding leadership, but they will
accept only those leaders, in or out
of our legislative halls, who have
the courage and vision to discard
Old party labels and will stand out
Gear and distinct as the fearless
spinsors for a new order responsive
to the needs Of humanity.
THE Taps set by the major par
ties baited with political prefer
ments are rusting in their barren
ness. The enticing allurements of
political honors who listens upon
deaf ears. and the aspirant for po-
litical patronage are falling upon
deaf ears, and the aspirant for po-
litical honors who listens to this
siren voice is no longer a popular
idol.
1T has been rightly said that no
political party can be founded ex-
cept upon a dominent issue which
appeals to the hearts and the souls
of the people themselves.
THAT issue is the Abolition of
Special Privilege, unanimously pro-
mulgated at the National Conven-
tion of the Committee of 48 in st.
Lolis in December 1919. and the
stone then rejected by the builders
of our political machinery has since
become the cornerstone of the pro-
gressive movement. The Abolition of
Special Privilege was the slogan
which elected Frazier, Sinclair,
Shipstead, Brookhart, Keller, La
Toilette, Wheeler, Howell, Frear,
Lampert, Beck, and other progress
sives. The advocacy of Special Priv
ilege was the flag under which Bev-
eridge, Dupont, Mondell, Kellogg,
.Volstead, Calder, McCumber. Hitch
cock, New, Townsend, Frelinghuy-
sen, Sutherland, Culberfson, Poin-
dexter, Pomerene, and their fellow
reactionaries, went down to defect
on November Z.
"And now the Abolition Of Spe-
cial Privilege has become the key
note Of the program adopted by
the Progressive Bloc of all parties
in convention assembled at Wash
ington on December 1.
Special Privilege, as established
and fostered by our political presti-
digators, has sown the seeds if dis
content and unhappiness, the frui-
tion Of which has brought America
to the verge of economic disaster.
In the Abolition Of Special Priv
ilege is contained the solution of
our railroad and labor problems
the decentralization of financial
control, the readjustment of our tax
burdens, the salvation of the farm
er, the easing Of life for the pro-
fessional and business man, the res
toration of equal opportunity for all,
and the reduction of the high cost
of living.
mo man, and no group Of men,
are equal to the task Of formulating
a new party unless they are brave
enough and wise enough to concen-
trate their attention and devote
their lives to this one purpose. No
leader will measure up to the lead
ership required unless he can pic
ture our future state as one in which
there shall be no class distinction,
no government by coercion and no
program which benefits special in
terests at he expense of the public
welfare.