Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-06
NO NEED TO DESTROY CONSTITUTION
TO OBTAIN INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACY
Confined from First Page.)

tCOn1lnueO nom First RaGe.D
there is a fixed and settled order
which the mind of man cannot re-
verse: first let the people know, and
then the representatives of the peo-
pie will understand There exists to-
national Congress. feeling that our
Constitution is unequal to the task
of making real the new and pressing
demand for industrial democracy.
vision of conquest Schools have
been organized fofssthe purpose of
cultivating this belief. Eager young
devotees, with a vision extending
minds which are open to every Vision
airy folly. throng the halls where sit
old devotees, cynics who view the
world under the single category
economic ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the
poison designed to complete the
wreck of what they call our capital
istic empire.
ically persuaded that their dream OF
industrial democracy cannot begin
to be realized until after "a revolu-
ton" until our Constitution has been
swept away to make room for the
ideals of bolshevism, and for new
law like unto 1.-The Constitution of
republic"
All Liberty in Constitution.
If the people are not made to real
ize that our federal Constitution Of
fers a surer basis for industrial de-
mocracy than is offered by that OF OF
the Russian soviet republic. 1t Will
Constitution do not make the effort
to teach them. 1t is useless to point
out to them the fact that they enjoy
political democracy. Their answer is
he cyll ax
pressed in words written few years
ago by the now Associate Supreme
Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis:
None Of our contrasts are more
liberty and our industrial absolut-
ism"
They know that the Russian con-
stitution promises the abolition OF
exploitation of men by men, the en-
tire abolition of the division of the
of exploiters" And they are being
systema tically taught that, under our
Constitution, no such changes are
either contemplated or possible. Tney
know that there are no classes IN
this country, in the sense in which
that term applied to imperial Russia;
but they also know that there mas
been and is exploitation of men by
men" They are therefore not inter
ested in discussing political democ-
racy. They are wholly intent upon
the problem of creating Industrial
democracy: and if we wish them to
listen we must key our harps to that
high theme.
Any effective campaign to save the
Constitution, therefore, must center
it's attention upon the task OF sho"
ing that our Constitution offers a
satisfactory basis for the creation OF
an industrial democracy, at least as
real as is our political democracy.
If we can show this we can keep our
Constitution. If we fail to show tnls
our cause is lost; for Industrial de-
mocracy is as certain to come as was
nolitical democracy in the days or
our restricted ballot and class polltl-
cal domin alton. We wish it to come
not as the old alluring fraud OF com
munism dressed in modern garments
not as the new revolving nightmare
of bolshevism, bathed in blood. put
az the orderly enlargement of the
neople's power, new enfranchise-
ment of those already politically en-
franchised millions.
Comparisons Of Constitutions.
Does the American Constitution OF
fer a better chance of avoiding the
avoidable inequalities of life than is
offered by the Russian soviet consul
tuition? In the thorough discussion
question by the people lies the refu.
ia tion of bolshevism in America. II
the honest American apostle OF dls-
content can be made to understand
the essential natures OF these Two
documents he will become once more
an American patriot he may noe
wholly lose his discomfort, for there
are, unfortunately. some SOUND rea-
sons for it under existing conditlons'
but he will see that his Constitution
offers as ready a hospitality to need
ed Industrial reform as it has onered
to the political reforms which gave US
manhood suffrage. and which are now
giving US belated universal Suffrage.
We do not wish to relieve his discon-
tent until the just causes OF 1t nave
been eradicated. We only wish to re-
lieve his misrepresentation, to convince
him that our Constitution offers So
luton easier, cheaper and more ra-
tional than revolution. Revolution is
a word Of reaction. When our gov
eminent was established, and the citi-
zens were given peaceful instruments
Of defense, free press: free snot speech sssa
luton was declared obsolete. Evolu-
ton took its place.
T. The Russian constitution pro
vides for an al1-powerful government
able to do whatever it wishes The
American Constitution provides for a
the limit being set by the just prtn-
ciples which the people have laid
down
IAN the central and local power
belongs to these soviets." declares the
second sentence of paragraph 1 of
the Russian constitution. The pow
ers not delegated to the United States
by the Constitution are reserved to
I the states, respectively. or to the
people," runs the tenth amendment
to the American Constitution.
Which Do You Preferp
Do you prefer a government which
has unlimited power over you, or a
government definitely restrained by
the principles of justice. and confined
to its delegated powers? Which kind
of government is the more likely to
exploit the Individual? Russian con-
ditions may make necessary the crea-
ton Of a government of unlimited
power, but the evils which Americans
endure are not SO deep-seated or so
serious as to demand so drastic
remedy. With over a century and
quarter of free government behind us
we are abundantly able to curb Or
eanized se1fshness without the crea-
ton of a governmental despotism.
I'm