Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-08-30
LABOR MOU7HPIECE
FINDS WE:AKNE|: Sc IN
Ia Toilette PLANK
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Especial Leased Wire to The Journal-Copy.
right. 1924

right, 1920
WASHINGTON, Aug. 28-The
American Federation of LABOR is
not swallowing Senator Robert NJ,
La Toilette or radicaIism.
Although an Endorsement has been
given the third party nominees as
individuals, the "Federationist," the
official organ of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, will say in it's edi,
torial in the September number
shortly to be issued some important
things which can not but be con
strued as a fundamental objection
to certain principles for which La
Toilette stands.
The American Federation of La
Dor firmly agrees with La Toilette
on the subject of trusts and
monopolies and government owner
ship, and demands that the Sherman
antitrust law be repealed. The
"Federationist" expresses a friend
ship for trusts as a means Of con-
serving labor and thinks the La Fol
lettc program of trying to cure
monopoly. by political regulation is
wrong.
After reading the editorial, one
can not help wonder how the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor could in
dorso La Toilette at all, for on prin-
ciple they are far apart. Would the
Wisconsin senator subscribe to what
the "Federationist" says?
Here Labor's Editorial
Anyone who knows the Wisconsin
leader can answer the question by
studying the forthcoming editorial,
which says in part:
"Privately owned monopoly as n
political issue is bound to play a
part in the present political cam
paign 1t compels attention, direct
ly or indirectly, in the political plat.
forms. The Democratic party de-
mands strict enforcement of the
Sherman antitrust law. The La Fol
lettc platforms call for use of the
lower of government to crush prI-
vate monopoly, rather than foster
it. The Republican platform pro
pounds the good old doctrine OF
Laissez FARE, or leave things about
as they are.
mo political platform meets the
thought of labor on this great ques-
ton of monopoly, and labor, in con-
sidering platforms, could not and did
not make it's analysis on that issue
alone. There are many issues but
this one is we'll worth special con-
sideration at the outset in order tbat
labOr's future course may be as
clear as has been its past record.
THE American Federation Of La
Dor has demanded and will continue
to demand the repeal of the Sherman
antitrust act. 1t can not hold with
the Republicans that nothing needs
to be done, but it would prefer the
status quo to a tinkering process
that would result in strengthening
the antitrust act or in creating new
political machinery with which to
burden industry and labor without
real benefit to either.
Lahore Capital Inseparabale
LET it be set forth definitely here
that labor and industry are indiVisl-
bel and inseparable. Labor as such
may have interests Of other factors
in industry, but as part Of the
great world Of industry, labor, man
agement, science, all share in the re-
sponsibiity for the productivity and
general wel-being of industry and
they are all bound up in it's fate.
cratic demand for strict and stern
application Of the Sherman law. The
only strict and stern enforcement
that act has yet had has been against
labor-and labor confessedly and alb
solutely has had enough.
Labor has protested from time
out of mind against being classed
with dead, dull merchandise. Labor
is not commodity. The Democratic
platform declares that labor is not d
commodity but it cancels this lip
service by demanding enforcement OF
Jaw which almost, more than any
other, has served to place labor be
fore the courts in the category o.
commodities.
Neither can American labor APP
prove the demand for what is often
termed government repression Of
monopoly. Labors fight is not
against combination in industry as
such, but is against the evil influ
epces which control great combina
tons and which are too often eX-
erted in our political, judicial and
economic life.
No Political Solution
Labor declares that the question
Of controlling monopoly and con-
serving the public welfare against
abuses by monopoly can not be
solved by the political state and al
most every attempt so to absolve it
will lead to more abuse than remedy. |
"Consider this vital fact: govern
ment stands as the guarantOr Of the |
rights of private property. We |
shall have the institution of private |
property as long as our present form |
of government stands. Democracy |
rests upon the private ownership of |
property as much as upon any other |
basis.
The basis Of monopoly and of all |
large ownership, is in the institution |
Of private property. There is no |
going back of that fact. 1t stands |
and all theorists will do well to re-
member it.
Starting on that basis, ownership |
submits to natural forces at work |
in the field of industry. These natu-
raj forces make for constantly en-
larging units Of production and con- !