Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-11
DEMANDS Of LABOR
CREATE NEW ISSUE
Third Political Party May De-
velop From Present Indus
trial Situation.
DEMOCRATS ARE WAVERERS
May Lead His Adherents
to Radical Changes Advo-.
Gated by Union Leaders.
BY j. FRED EssARY.

oulst OF ranicalism throughout the
United States within the past two
weeks. state of mind that is mani
tested in the sudden demand from or
san!zed labor for the "nationalization"
OF the railroads. for government con-
troll OF the fuel supply Of the nation
and for government measures that will
reduce the cost OF living, has given the
old-line parties in the country some
thing serious to think about.
Moreover. it has convinced many
political leaders that a new alignment
is inevitable and that one or the other
Of the existing organizations must
become radical to degree hitherto
undreamed of. else a third party will
come into being wnicn will voice the
plans and policies Of the labor element
OF the nation. This element, OF course
might b: driven into the ranks OF
socialism. but that is not at this
moment looked upon as a serious pros
pect
a few weeks ago there was much
discussion OF third party dedicated
70 nationalisin as distinguished from
internationaii ism" few political
would fight the league of nations to
the extent of creating new organiza-
ton for the purpose. If need be. But
account any domestic crisis.
Based Treaty Fight.
IT was. predicated upon the assump-
tion that vast body OF American peo-
pie We're uncompromisingls opposed TO
linking up the fortunes of this country
with those OF Europe and that, II the
Republican party did not force the
issues in that direction. new party
would be formed which would do it,
Since those warnings were issued
however, domestic questions have come
forward for an answer which have
completely overshadowed the debate
upon the league OF nations The hirh
cost of living is at the bottom Of all
these these questions, and unless it can be
dealt with successfully there is no
toreseeing how far ii may carry the
American people. AS has been pointed
out repeatedly In these dispa tches
neither OF the old parties seemed to
in this matter until all OF once the
country seemed 10 rise up with A
sweeping demand for relief. If such
thing were possible.
This demand found the administration
and Congress equally unprepared. No
program had been worked out. No
policies e,S had had bee been hSed in antieipatjon
done. The President, bringing all his
resourcefulness into play finally put
the executive departments in motion
and laid his plans before Congress- but
this did not como until afte- the great
labor ORGANIZATIONS began to show
their teeth and began TO exercise their
power by far-fung strikes.
Demands Regarded GraveIy.
Coincdent with all this came the
la bor that the transportation system
or the country pass out forever from the
control of the railroad owners AT first
this program created but a mild sensa-
ton. but more recently political lead
ers have come to regard it more grave
ly: They have begun to wonder what
rr-s Il 1-. e..
such proposition and defes labor to
do its worst.
The wartime experience of the ma
ton in government control and opera
ton o! the railroads and the wire SER
vices seemed month ago To have
silenced all those who had for years
clamored for government ownership
OF such utilities. This experience has
been unfortunate for every interest
concerned except that of labor itself
The wage earners have nrofited by gov
more money than they ever made be-
fore. and more money than some OF
them ever expected to make and they
find IL easier and more successful TO
or more bosses. as in the old days.
But more Significant than that is
the demand Of the railroad men Tor di
rect participation in the management
of the properties.
Similar to British Demand.
This Is exactly what the great body
OF British labor is demanding. III
tact, the British Labor party. as a par
ty. has committed itself to such a pro-
gram. and the workers of the United
Kingdom arc not merely insisting
upon voice in the management OF the
railroads, but in the coal mines. the
shipbuilding business and many other
national industries.
The fixed purpose OF American rail-
way men to have part i'm the opera
ton OF the transportation system
must must become political question
proposition out of politics. whether or
not II is ultimately championcd by one
or the two existing political organiza-'
tions In order TO force it to the at
tention of the country railroad labor
might easily set up party standard
tries to rally around that standard
In every great domestic uphcaval in
the past. however. one or the other OF
the great parties, soon or late. took
the radical side and rendered the
formation or continuance of q third
party Unnecessary. In the day4 of the
civil War the Republican party was
the radical organization I, was the
abolition party. and 1t remained radi-
cal until many years after the war,
when by degrees it became the con-
servativc body Of American voters.
More recently the progressive"
the doors of both parties closed to it.
II founded the Progressive Party OF
1912. But this organization dissolved
after one national campaign for the
manifest reason that the Democratic
party appropriated all the progressive
policies that were worthy. Woodrow
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