New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-02
THE SOCIALIST VIEW
Wilson Administration Is No More
Progressive Than Taft
To thu Editor Of The Tribune.


calls should support the Democratic
ticket rather than the Socialist ticket
because of the fundamental difference
between the social philosophy OF MI
Wilson and that of Mr.. Hughes. This
they argue, is so great as to warrant a
genuine radical to do all In his power
20 ward off the catastrophe that would
inevitably follow q Republican victory
II we study the social iegis-
lation that has been passed in the last
decade we are forced to the conclusion
that the social and economic develop
ment of the country is such Mt present
that some progressive legislation IS 70
he expected under any administrator
Take for instance, the administration
Of Mr.. Taft. Few will accuse that gem
tleman of an excessive liking for pro-
gressive legislation. Yet we ind that
curing his four years in office such
measures were passed as the parcel
post, the Postal Savings Bank laws the
laws establishing the Children's bu-
roam. the Bureau of Mines, the Depart
ment of Labor as distinct from the De-
partment of Commerce, the Eight-hour
law for employees Of contractors dong
work for the United States Govern
mont the Child Labor law for the Dis
trict of Columbia, the Anti-Gag law,
The income tax amendment to the Con-
stitution. the amendment TO the Con-
stitution permitting popular election OF
limited States Senators, and similar
measures.
Mr. Wilson realized that there was
huge progressive sentiment IN the
country. He realized that il he was
70 hone for a second term he would
have 10 cater TO that progressive senti-
ment. And yet, in spite Of this state
of affairs. We see very little really fun
damental legislation passed under the
Wilson regime. We do not see at TINS
time. when other nations are raising
their income and inheritance taxes by
leans and bounds, any radical increase
in these forms of taxation. We 90 not
see any advocacy of the minimum wage
law. We do not witness any enthu-
siastic support of public ownership OF
sucb utilities as the railroads, of gem
nine social insurance acts against old
AGE. accidents or sickness. These meas
ures have been placed into operation
already by many nations of the world
All Of them have been practically
ignored by the Wilson administration
We have. of. course, the Child Labor
law. We are grateful for this, but we
must realize that this legislation was
not originally on the Democratic pro-
gramme and that it was only when the
President began to receive thousands
of kilograms from various parts OF the
country vigorously protesting against
the omission Of this measure from the
tentative programme that he gave u
consideration. We have the Eight
Hour law. However, it must be real
lied that the eight-hour agitation was
not begun by Mr.. Wilson, but by the
hrotherhoods of railway employees.
The Presidents policy of segregatng
the colored people in governmental en-
ployment from the white employees has
according to students Of the subject
greatly complicated the negro problem
and hindered the development of the
| colored people in many ways. he mas
left the bars down on the question OF
! conservation, has supported the Shields
bill. which would give certain water
powers of the country to predatory prl-
| vate interests forever and for nothing
and has in this field encouraged the
/ forces of reaction. He has been COM
pelled to cate. to politicians by disre-
parding the Civil Service rules and by
appointing men of inferior mentality
to responsible positions. By accedlng
to the demands of the militarists and
favoring an appropriation for army and
navy purposes S200,00O,000 greater
than that appropriated by any other
country in time of peace he has gwen
consciously or unconsciously a great
impetus to the military spirit OF this
country.
From the standpoint of mildly pro-
gressive legislation there will not be
much difference between Republican
and a Democratic administration. We
must also realize that from the stand
point of genuinely radical legislation
there will be little difference, for
neither candidate or party stands for
any programme which in any vital
way leads to a fundamental redistribu-
ton of wealth, which In any vital way
leads to the abolition Of poverty and
to the securing to the laborer the prod
uct of his toll. That is the most i'm
portant problem before the American
people. That problem neither the Re-
publican nor the Democratic party has
touched. From the standpoint of the
worker the success either of the Re-
publican or Democratic party will be a
/ calamity. From the standpoint OF the
worker the only thing that will count
in this campaign will be the strength
ening of the one party-the Socialist
party-which is fighting persistently
for the abolition of poverty, the aboli-
ton OF class war, the securing of gen.
uine equality of opportunity, of real
democracy, of real freedom.
HARRY W. Ladder.
New York, Oct. 81, 1915.