The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-07-06
FRANKP. WALSH ADVISES RUSSIA TO
ADOPT WHAT WE ARE STRIVING FOR

(From the Committee on Indus
trial Relations.)
NEW YORK, July 2.-In response
to request from the Russian
Weekly" published in Chicago, Frank
P. Walsh, chairman of the Commit
tee on Industrial Relations, has made
the following statement on the les
sons and warnings that Russian de-
mocracy can gain from America.
We find after more than CEN
tury of constituted democracy in
America, that we have the letter
but not always the spirit of an in
spirational and genuinely progress
sive form of government.
The Constitution of the United
States, following the Bill of Rights,
promised much and has performed
much, but stealthy inroads have
been made upon it's finer provisions,
usually through bald legalistic sop
histries, so that its substantial guar
antees have been destroyed so far as
the great mass of the people of the
United States is concerned. The
result is that democracy, as under
stood by many of us, has disappeared
in great measure and probably will
not return except through travail,
suffering and finally a readjustment
of our national thought to the sane
and hopeful view that the well-be-
ing and happiness of all the people
is the momentous thing in national
government, and not the superficial
and hollow prosperity of a few of
us.
The hope of America lies not alone
in the splendid struggle of the pro-
ducing masses for justice, but also
in the valiant and self-sacrificing
spirit of the thousands who see
clearly the menace to the republic
and who, having independent means
of living in many instances, yet are
working against an order of things
which isures them wealth and COM
forts denied to the countless ma
jority. Throughout our land there
are hundreds of intelligent and force
full labor leaders, students of gov
ernment and so-called radicals, pos
sessed of vision and courage, who
are turning into the fight their
personal abilities and fortunes to
stem the tide of privilege which
threatens to engulf our beloved re-
public. They work for that ideal
through which democracy shall en-
dure, and labor, the source of all
wealth, shall reap the harvest which
it sows.
New Russia should heed these plain
lessons. America paved the way
for world democracy. 1t was the
fulfillment of glorious dream,
dreamed by forceful and resolute men
intent upon newer dispensation that
should bring the greatest measure
of peace and happiness to all the
people; a flaming torch in the dark
ness of autocratic misrule. Amer
lean democracy has not entirely full
filled it's prophecy. But it has
helped tighten a world darkened by
cruelty and injustice. Let the men
and women of New Russia join the
hopeful souls of our own country
who vision nations encompassed by
truth and everlasting justice and hu-
manity between man and man, and
trim the wick which will make
brighter world fast falling into
the darkness of greed and callous
selfishness.
New Russia has learned the les
son that life is governed at its
springs. and not at it's flood. Where
has miscarried in Ameri-
ca it has been subtle and unknown
to all except the thoughtful and dis
cerning. So far it has aroused but
comparatively few and these the vic
tins, usually of the insidious con-
spiracies against their freedom of
thought and action. New Russia
should strive to adjust its govern
ment at the start so as to eliminate
Il r