The New York herald., 1922-09-25
LEADERS in POLITICS
INDIFFERENT TO VOTE
AND VOICE OF LABOR
Both Conspicuous for Their
Absence From a Part
in Campaign.
NO PROTEST is HEARD
Politicians Surprised at the
Absence of HOwls From
Union Chiefs.
PUBLIC HOSTILITY is SEEN
Indifference of Congressman
Is Laid to Public Attitude
on Unionism.
NO PROTEST is HEARD
PUBLIC HOSTILITY rs SEEN
ny LOUIS sEIBOLD.


BY LOUIS SEIBOLD.
Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c.. Sent. "a.
One of the most remarkable features
of the struggle for the control of Con-
gress is the Indifference Of leaders in
both political parties to the organized
labor vote.
For the first time in twenty years
the influence usually asserted in politi-
cal campaigns by the bosses and
leaders of trade unions is conspicuous
by it's absence.
Beyond the usual friendly banalities
in the State platforms of the two
parties less attention and consideration
have beer devoted to the organized
labor groups than was the rule for
many years This indifference was
manifest in the policies of the two
parties in Congress during the session
which ended on Friday.
Measures designed to confer upon
the organized labor groups special
privileges of class distinction found
little favor and, in fact, figured only
remotely in the debates, or, what is of
greater significance. were pigeonholed
without provoking the hysteria which
usually characterizes legislative con-
sideration of measures affecting the
labor interests.
No Outcry From Labor.
The surprising part of the matter
is that the labor leaders, presumably
appreciating the present public esti-
mate of trade unions. did not emit the
howl of protest that such treatment
ordinarily invites.
The chief reason for the manifest
indifference of Congress toward the
program of the organized trades
unions was due to the conviction OF
party leaders and members OF the
two houses generally that public senti-
ment was aggressively hostile rather
than sympathetic with the ambitions
A few individual Senators and Rep
resentatives attempted at intervals to
take UP the cudgels for organized
labor. but with Indifferent success. The
labor leaders themselves did not ex-
tend very much help or adopt the
time honored practice of attempting
to bulldoze with threats of political
reprisals legislators who preserved an
attitude of tranquil indifference to
their demands.
Aside from Wisconsin the trades
unions have not exercised any con-
spicuous amount of influence in de-
termining the results of primary
contests.
The policy adopted by candidates
for the House and Senate In the
present campaign is to dodge positive
commitments Of specific character
by generally asserting wholehearted
friendship with the ambitions of the
organized labor groups. Here and
there candidates for the lower house,
running true to form, have made open
bids for the support of labor by pledg-
ing themselves to support Its program
in the coming Congress.
Pledges Mere Talk.
Such promises have been character
istioally insincere and solely designed
TO entice support from every group
or class willing to exchange votes on
an unndorsed promissory note as in
the case of the bonus, 1t has been the
recent policy of candidates for Con-
gress to make such pledges without
serious thought OF ever filling them.
The point was to get the votes.
In appraising the causes for the ap-
parent loss OF public support by the
labor groups Republican and Demo-
cratic leaders place first of all public
opinion. The consensus of the pro-
fessional-political view is that the
labor groups have displayed Grass stu
pidity in dealing with the reconstruc-
tive economic conditions resulting from
the war and have not showed the
slightest sympathy toward assisting in
the effort of the Government and peo-
pie generally TO pave the way for the
return of an even and normal balance.
The leaders of both parties have no
difficulty In recalling to the public
mind the arrogant attitude assumed
by labor unions during the world con-
fiict; their assertion of maximum
privileges in the line of profiteering at
the expense of the Government and
people: their complete and, in fact, con-
temptuous indifference of the profess
sional labor groups toward the people
generally.
In a recent discussion OF organized
labor interests between two Demo-
cratic and three Republican leaders of
national prominence, logical expla-
nation OF the unfriendly attitude Of
the public toward organized labor was
advanced by participant whose de-
meanor has been most sympathetic to
the ambitions of industrial toilers gem
Continued on Pare F0ur.