Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-10-17
LA TOILETTE VS.. COOLIDGE

Present indications are that the
presidential race lies between Cool
idge and La Toilette, with the latter
gaining new support every day. We
have no mud to throw upon the per-
sonal character of Mr.. Coolidge, and
we believe the venomous attacks be-
ing made upon Senator La Toilette
are refuted by his consistent and
praiseworthy record as a champion OF
the rights of the people and against
the encroachments of special privl-
lege.
But when, as an advocate of the in
terests of labor, we come to consider
the character of the influences which
are back of each of these men as can
didates for the presidency of the
United States, there is much to be
said for and against.
The office of president gives great
power to the incumbent and through
him to the interests which supported
him in his campaign. The president
appoints the heads Of the executive
denartments which are supposed to
carry out the laws. He appoints the
iudges of the supreme court. he
strongly influences the legislation
passed by the congress, and exercises
the power of veto when its acts 90
not meet with his approval. In hun
dreds of ways, directly and indirectly
the political policy Of the president
and his partisan supporters AFFECTS
the rights and liberties of working
people. This is why labor is learnin}
to weigh the things for which the
candidates stand and to vote indie
pendent of old party lines.
President Coolidge in a recent ad-
dress said: 81 am for a common
sense government by all the people,
according to the American poll.cy ana
and under the American constitution.
| want all the people to continue to
be partakers in self-governmetn.
Very good, but these words might
have been said by any of the candl-
dates. They raise no issue.
Later, touching upon one OF the
real issues Of the campaign and
matter of labor, he said of the Re,
nublican party: eve have outlaWed
ali artificial privilege. | do not fav-
or a corporation government, bank
GOVERNMENT, a farm government, OF
= labor government"
Rut Senator La Toilette does not
agree with Mr.. Coolidge when he says
his party has "outlawed all artificial
nrivilege," or that it does not favor
Hcornoration government"
La Toilette, refuting these CLAIMS,
points to the record of the presidents
nartv and says: "Since the Civil war
thn Government has bestowed priv
lnges and fostered through admins
tr9tion favoritism a new system, un-
der which a few men are enabled to
live on the fruits of the labor OF
others" This new system of favont-
ism. he continues, fixes prices the
people must pay for the necessa1es
of life, controls transportatlon' naIu-
raj resources and credit. This, he de-
clares, enables the beneficiarles OF the
system of favoritism to "amass
enormous wealth by levylng, tribute
upon the people" Every laborlng
man knows this is unvanished truth.
Senator La Toilette would drive
these favorites out Of the control OF
the fair fatness of the country. I'VE
have enlisted in this campaign" ne
saws, "to restore government to the
service of the public"
There we have first-hand state
ments regarding at least one of the
live issues of this campaign. Which
of the two candidates more nearly
represents the interests of labor?
Coolidge, with all the Favored inter
ests" back of him? Or La Toilette,
who after years of fighting within
his party finally left it because it had
left democracy ?-Dayton Labor Re-
view.