Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1926-03-19
state Federation of Labor
Endorses Frank L. Smith
For United States Senator

n TIE O1lcers Anu X
Organized Labor In The state VI
Illinois.
Grsetings:-
T,lesday the 18th day Of April, 1926,
Z. he day set apart for the nomina-
:. - al candidates for the United
les Senate, in the State Of Illinois.
fiis.ois Is predominately Republican.
=. any rate there does not seem to be
sny particular contest IN the Demo
eretic party. It is important there
fere. that a good selection be made IN
ne Republican primaries.
illinois is one of the largest states
:. Inc Union. industrially, and agrieul-
ally. Necessarily its representa-
ives in the United States Senate
ssrry great weight and influence in
the deliberations of that body.
The latter the war conditions" have
not been adjusted in this country, as
vet. Promises were made to labor.
They were to have a real right to
organize. to act collectively, TO speak
through chosen representatives. The
VOICE Of labor was to be heard at the
Industrial conference tables in a
greater and fairer volume than here
fofore. There was to be democracy
IN The industriarl field as well as in
the political field. Recognition of the
lights of the laboring men and women
of this country are secured primarily
by the organization Of the workers.
This right can be hampered or adj
yanced by the political agents of the
people of this country in the Congress
and in the various legislatures.
In Illinois we are about to name a
limited States Senator. The man
elected may be extremely helpful or
extremely hurtful. Right now there
is no more important contest up than
the selection of the Republican nom
inee for Senator in the state Of ILL
nois. There are two candidates, Col
onel Frank l.. Smith, of Dwight, who,
while in the House of Representatives
for one term cast every vote favor
able to labor. He is chairman of the
Republican State Central Committee,
and when the great issue of the pas
sage of the Injunction Limitation bill,
labor's greatest single legislative item
was up in the Illinois Legislature,
Frank L. Smith gave the power of his
position and the weight of his Won
derful personality to the passage OF
that bill. In his work upon the Hill
nois Commerce Commission, of which
he is chairman, ihs activities have
been friendly to labor. He saved
householders, millions in car fares and
gas and electric rates. In fact, in all
his activities labor has been the gamer
he N
Judge as TO what men will do in the
future by their past conduct. If that
yard stick be applied to Frank l..
Smith, we will have friend in the
United States Senate.
His opponent is the sitting member,
William B. Mckinley of Champaign.
If in all his political and private life
he has ever displayed friendliness to
the workers of America it has been
carefully concealed. All his associates
and associations are unhelpful to
labor. His mind is atuned to the or
ganization of capital and employers
and to the disorganization of the
workers of this country. He would
compel the single individual employee
to deal with organized employers.
Since this campaign has started, Mr..
Mckinley has been widely quoted IN
the press as having stated at meet
ing that he was opposed to the pres
ent primary law. That he would work
for its repeal, and work against any
extension Of the primary principle.
This plan would prevent an extension
of the primary so far as downstate
judges are concerned. This is a fair
indication of how much regard Sena--
tor Mckinley has for the will and
wishes of his constituents or for a
Democratic form of Government.
Just as recently as the present
session of Congress, Senator Mckinley
introduced bill, Senate Bill No. 1899,
which had for its purpose the forcing
of trials in suits of employees, who
we're injured on the railroads, to
place where the railroad could be
found, instead of as under the present
law wherever the railroad does bust
ness. According to the best informed
attorneys for the Railroad Brother
hoods the new bill would force the
widows and dependents of employees
killed, and the injured employees to
sue the Railroad Company in the
State in which it was incorporated,
rather than in any State in which the
railroad does business as under the
present law. The Railroad Brother
hoods and the American Federation of
Labor fought this bill bitterly, and
it is now believed Mr.. Mckinley will
be unsuccessful in getting it enacted
into law. 1t is another evidence OF
his disregard for the welfare Of the
workers of the country.