The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-04-10
Unity on COssack Bill

Some days ago we commented on the result of
the compromise tactics of the Illinois labor official
dom in the fight on the state constabulary bill
Their support of Small has resulted logically in
their support of the state police measure endorsed
by Small and known as the Barr bill.
We said then that the employers association
and other antilabor organizations would be able
to accept the compromise measure and make il
serve them.
The Chicago Tribune is out openly for the Barr
bill and it voices the opinion Of the big capitalist
interests of Illinois. 1t says editorially:
We believe that better force Of state police would
be obtained under the Dunlap bill, but Small will not
accept that, and II Is opposed by labor unions
who fear the misuse Of the force in strikes The Barr
bill specifies that the highway police shall enforce
the motor vehicle law patrol public highways and
rural districts and shall have all the powers pos
sessed by policemen in cities and sherlffs. Such
force be good worthless according to the drec
ton and discipline it receives.
Citizens who want the Dunlap bill say the governor
will play politics with the force established under
the Barr bill. Probably he will, but we do not be-
believe that the state should reject what get
as beginning Of state police The present governor
may make a political machine out Of the highway
police but administrations change. start at rural
highway protection is start, If not the best.
poiice cHicency varies
lions, but we'd not do without police force because
any certain mayor might misuse it.
We do not believe that the supporters Of state
police should try to defeat the scheme the present
governor will accept if that scheme the best which
be had. There'l be some good in II and It can
be better II the Barr bill take the hurdles
which have tripped the Dunlap bill in various ses-
sions of the legislature il will be the bill which Will
give the state highway police Rd
-
the same bill that the capitalists accept There is
nothing very novel about this, it happens quite
often in the American labor movement, but seldom
in questions that the rank and file of organized
labor can readily understand
The labor takers supported Small because, they
said, he against a state constabulary Small
makes a few changes in the measure proposed by
the bosses calls it a highway police bill and th'
takers still trail along.
The state constabulary will be formed, it vii
club and shoot striking workers and the statute
legalizing these atrocities will have received the
endorsement of organized labor
The labor officials have not even put up fight
against the state police BILL no widespread agita
ton has been carried on by them, no program o.
action was laid out for the unons-the defeat ha
been taken lying down.
Only the district organization of the Workers
(Communist) Party really fought the bill. All thu
unions were circularized, special articles were car
ried by the DAILY WORKER, the Communists il
the unions made the police bill an issue with thos'
workers they could reach.
One good purpose has been served. The takers
have added another clause to our indictment O
them as inefficient, incompetent, cowardy, whel
they are not actually treacherous.
Supporting the candidates of the capitalist
carries its own penalty The first step to the estab
lshment of a force of state cossacks was the en-
dorsement of Small the Coolidge supporter, b.
the labor officials.