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WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
V0U21VN0.9.
Lincoln, Nebraska, September, 1921
Whole Number 749
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(Abstract of Labor Day Address of William
Jennings Bryan, . Chicago, Sept. 5., 1921.) ,
On this day, which is to Labor what the 4th
of July is to the United States, we may with
propriety consider the progress that Labor has
made during the last quarter of a century, La
bor's present problems, and Labor's future
tasks. While progress measured from day -to
day seems slow, the past twenty-five year have
recorded many important steps taken in ad
vance. A little more than twenty-five years ago, or
ganized labor secured for the public the Aus
tralian ballot, by which the. individual could
express his wish jvithout coercion." While other
groups aided in the securing of this reform, or
ganized labor furnished the largest and most ac
tive influence. Twenty-five years ago this summer
opposition to government by injunction was "
for the first time expressed in the platform of
a great party, and nearly twenty years , after
wards, it-was! substantially realized.- iiuftli61ayr
ton bill. - . t, -r --"
Twenty6n'e;iy,ears; ago one of the real parties:
demanded;a secretary, of labor,- and in.1918.3ec:
retary Wilson became the first representative: tf
labor at the President's council table. f
For years the eight hour day was urged -by la
bor, and as-a result of the campaign of 1916. it
was given national endorsement after it had
been embodied in a hotly contested statute.
Child labor laws have become a reality in
many states, and, at last, a national law at
tempted to secure this great and needed reform.
An adverse decision of the court has temporar
ily suspended the law, but the conscience of the
nation will, before long, guarantee to. the child
the enjoyment of the American birthright.
Labor has contributed largely toward the se
curing of the popular election of the United
States senators, of. the primary, of the income
tax, and suffrage for womeneach an epoch
making reform. , Tnis is a 'splendid list of
achievements, important in themselves and in
dicative of LabbT's atttiiide. They' prove loyalty
to the Democratic, idea in -governmentthe idea
which lpd to the expenditure of billions in the'
recent war.
, Just now, organized labor is demonstrating its
devotion to popular government in Germany.
Eleven millions of wage earners have just
pledged their support to the Republic, and it is
likely thatT their prompt action will prevent
any attempt of the monarchists to restore
arbitrary government . there. What other class
in Germany ha so unanimously proven its faith
in a government of the people.
Labor ha3 its-pending problems In this coun
tryforemost among which are the vindication
of the right to organize, to bargain collectively,
and to persuade wage earners to join the or
ganization, and these rights will all be secured
as it has securjod other reasonable demands. The
public will- approve of eveyy persuasive effort
that1 labor ay seejfi,t to 'employ,, and no.'friendj
ot labor will-go. 'beyond feat. The. right to
DANGER AHEAD
Congress has under consideration a
measure for the revision of the revenue
act of 1918. In its effect on the fortunes
of the people generally, the proposed leg
islation is the most impqrtant bill that has
come before congress in years,
The gigantic combinations of capital, the
profiteers that fed on the substance of the
people while our boys fought the battles
of your country, and the ultrarich, all. are
exerting every means in their power to
escape their just burden of the costs 'of
the war. They are seeking to repeal the
excess-profits tax, the surtaxes, and other
measures, in order to shift the load on the
backs of the consumers.
The Democratic minority has taken the
side of the people in this battle, and is
calling for support of the independent,
free-thinking people of the country in its
fight for their interests.
Congressman Oldfield of Arkansas, in a
speech which is reproduced in part on
.. other pages in this issue, mercilessly scores
the efforts of the wealth of the country to -.
escape its just- share of war, taxos, and.
sounds a warning -note that should jirpiise"
- every Ted-bJo6dedA-merican! Read'what .
Congressman Oldneld " says and then wi'ite
your senators and congressmen to get be
hind the Democratic m'norlty in its efforts
to protect the people- from, the exactions
of the proposed inequitable Rgpubjtaan
revenue measure.
.'v 4
Unblushing Piracy
The revenue bill, as presented to the House,
was the most unblushing piece of piracy ever
proposed in congress. It was so indefensible
that a Republican caucus struck out the retro
active clause and, by so doing, prevented (for
this year) a gift of 540 millions to the prof?
iteers and men with big Incomes. But as the
bill passed the House It relieved the rich and
big business and relatively increased the burden
on the poor. If the people stand for such ex
ploitation, the plutocrats will bite still bigger
next year, but it looks like the farmers, the
laborers and the small business men are about
to revolt. It is time. W. J. BRYAN.
FOUR--AND THE PRESIDENT
The President has announced the "Big 4"
through whom Tie' will speak in the Disarma
ment conference. He has selected four promt'
nent men three of them could not .well be
ignored. Secretary Hughes is head of the dele-
. gatjon.ex-ofllcjp, .Chairman Lodge of tlje tinoreJgnJ
,..R,elatfons Committee vi aisp there ex-bfilcib, and
" ebf-Spnrtftftrvi.Root would naturally come! tliliu
but President Harding will have the final word,
The four are his advisors, but success or failure',
rests with President Harding.
' coerce belongs to the government, and. to the
government alone. No classes more vitally
interested in the prevention of class government
than the laboring class its. safety lies in a gov
ernment of the people, by the people, and for
the "people.
The great problem for the future is the rec
oncilation of labor and capital, and the har
monizing, of the interests of all through the
spirit of brotherhood. This can best be secured
by organized provision for the legal investiga-
" tion o2 every dispute before it reaches the stage
of strike or lock-out. Compulsory arbitration
is' repugnant to the spirit of our institutions,
but investigation is .necessary to the formation
of that public opinion which, in the end, con-
's trols all elements of our society.
' ' A GREAT CAMPAIGN ISSUE
" The Republican reactionaries are giving the
' Democrats the greatest Issue they have ever had.
The revenue Wll, as prepared 'by Republican
leaders, is the boldest,, most unblushing effort
to favor the' rich at the expense of the poor ever
presented to congress. If the Democrats can
not win on' that issue they are in a bad way.
But to take advantage of that bill the' Demo
crats must $ry to defeat it. Wanted a good
debater in each congressional district to kep
the provisions of the bill oerore tne people.
' -nr t ntJVAv
PROSPECTS BRIGHTEN , .
No telling what may happen next year it will
be a year of surprises. If the Democrats will
exerctee care in the selecting of congressmen and
candidates for governor a winning man may de
velop into a presidential candidate In 1924. Be
careful! No wet or Wall Street men need ap
ply. The underworld can not help and Wall
street will not nominate men whom the people '
trust. . . W. J. BRYANl
LOCATING THE PROFITEER
On another page will be found statistics to
show that he wholesalers are blaming the re
tailers for keeping up high prices. SOMEBODY
is to blame and the patient public is trying to
locate the responsibility. Nobody accuses the
farmer of keeping up prices he Is the goat.
Why not examine the tax returns and see who
is reporting excess profits?
KEEP EXCESS PROFITS TAX
A $10 tax on every auto, a two centtax, or
every bank check and a 1 cent tax addedto evprj
letter will not raise as much as the excess prof
its:,tax. Why annoy all the people with these
taxes in order to relieve the profiteers of a jus1
tax? They ought to be punished instead of 'be
ing favored. . W. J. BRYAN.
W. J. BRYAN.
The farmer finds prices down when, he sells
and up wuent' he buys. .How long can he stand
! , tills' disjointed price level?' '
. REACTION ARIES AT WORK
The reactionaries are at work. Tbe-actior
of the Republican caucus in striking out the
retroactive clause of the revenue bill does not
suit Wall street. They want to keep the excess
profits already collected from the public thtev
year. But wait until the voters have a chance
to speak next year, W S: BRYAN.
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