Denver labor bulletin., 1917-08-04

SdL gam 4ioii <hHiSiiSa.
We find after more than a century
of constituted democracy in America,
that we have the letter but not al
ways the spirit of an inspirational and
genuinely progressive form of gov
ernment
The constitution of the United
States, following the bill of rights,
promised much and has performed
much, but steadily inroads have been
made upon its finer provisions, usual
ly thru bald legalistic sophistries, SO
that its substantial guarantees have
been destroyed SO far as the great
mass of the people of the United
States is concerned. The result is
that democracy, as understood by
many of US, has disappeared in great
measure and probably will not return
except thru travail, uffering and final
ly a readjustment of our national
thought to the sane and hopeful view
that the well-being and happiness of
all the people is the momentous thing
in national government, and not the
superficial and hollow prosperity of
few of US.
Many Denied Comforts of Life.
The hope of America lies not alone
in the splendid struggle of the produc-
ing 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, hav
ing independent means of living in
many instances, yet are working
against an order of things which in
sures them wealth and comforts de-
MED to the countless majority. Thru
out our land there are hundreds of
intelligent and forceful labor leaders,
students of government and so-called
radicals, possessed of vision and cour-
age, who are turning into the fight
their personal abilities and fortunes
to stem the tide of privilege which
threatens to engulf our beloved repub-
lie. They work for that ideal thru
which democracy shall endure and
labor, the source of all wealth, SHAH
reap the harvest which it sows.
New Russia should heed these plain
lessons. America paved the way for
world democracy 1t was the full
fillment of a glorious dream, dreamed
by forceful and resolute men intent
upon a newer dispensation that should
bring the greatest measure of peace
and happiness TO all of the people; a
flaming torch in the darkness of auto
cratic misrule. American democracy
has not entirely fulfilled its prophecy.
But it has helped tighten world dark
ened by cruelty and injustice. Let the
the hopeful souls of our own country
who vision nations encompassed by
truth and everlasting justice and hu-
manity between man and man, and
turn the wick which will make brighter
a world fast failing into the darkness
of greed and callous selfishness.
New Russia has learned the lesson
that life is governed at its springs
and not at its flood. Where democracy
has miscarried in America it has been
subtle and unknown to all except the
thoughtful and discerning. So far it
has aroused but comparatively few and
these the victims, usually of the in
sidious conspiracies against their free
dom of thought and action. New Rus
sia should strive to adjust its govern
ment at the start so as to eliminate
and make impossible those features
which have proved n menace to Amer
lean freedom. The flavor of equality
must never perish; equality of oppor-
tunity in life; equality in the profits
of human effort.
No Life Tenure in Office.
New Russia should not permit life
tenures in office, judicial or otherwise.
Its first national charter should abol-
ish and make impossible forever all
forms of privilege. II should see that
the peasants get lIlt 10 lnt llllu
which they desire. 1t should own
every means of transportation. COM
munication and intelligence, leaving to
private initiative only those channels
which are not necessary to the comfort
and convenience of all. 1t should care
fully supervise profits; it should not
allow corporations to have charters
beyond actual investments, nor stock
holders in business corporations to es-
cape. the full responsibility for every
condition which surrounds the busi-
ness or industry in which they are en-
gagged. Its constitution should provide
that no man should be deprived of
life, liberty or property except thru the
finding of jury composed of men and
women drawn from the entire citizen
ry. 1t should deny its judges the right
of punishment for alleged contempts
of court committed out of its presence,
or the disobedience of court orders,
except after trial by n jury so con-
stituted. 1t should make the passage
of laws by the national congress or
the assemblies of minor political divis-
ions final and not subject to the review
of any court. 1t should incorporate
woman's suffrage in its constitution.
1t should exercise to the full its police
power to conserve the health and we'll
being of present and future genera
tions. 1t should limit the wealth of
any individual to sum which would
give him ample comfort and luxury,
and nothing more. 1t should provide
for home rule to the absolute limit.
1t should allow all men and women to
have and bear arms for their own pro-
lection and should prohibit private
corporations and persons from hiring
gunmen and armed guards. 1t should
provide that labor must be represent
ed upon every public board, of what