The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-11-07
KEEP BUSY

The adage that AN idle brain is the |
devils workshop" may be common
place, but it is nevertheless true. 1t |
was thought by some European coun-
tries that did not understand Demo
cratic government, and especially by |
Germany, that government of the |
kind that we enjoy would disintegrate
and resolve itself into many parts f
we were called upon to take a part in
great world war, but America stood
this test and demonstrated that when
danger threatens from without, we
were united within.
There were elements Of our citizen
ship that did not want to stand 10y
ally by when war was declared, but
they were soon overwhelmed by the
great number who responded to their
country's call, and offered all for the
countrys defense. We got busy and
kept busy until the war was on. Now
that it is over, and the great war
flame has burned low, we find numer
Gus flames shooting up from within
that must not be allowed to go I'M
checked. 1t is time to get busy and
stay busy until the group of radicals
in this country, who are trying to start
a revolution and hoist the red flag of
anarchy and tear down the flag that
stands for law and order and protec-
ton, are run out.
We have reached the stage where
passive indifference to the radicalism
that is being preached will no longer
10. 1t is time for stern and fearless
action against every element that IS
trying to Russianize the economic
lsystem of this country. No one at
this day and time questions the right
of labor to organize. In fact, union
ism has come to be an accepted factor
in our economic system, but labor or
ganized has no more right to assume
the role of law breaker and, an I'M
reasonable dictator, than the individ-
ual has.
American labor is today passing
through a great trial. Two ways are
open. 1t has the choice of following
conservative leaders who realize and
appreciate the rule of reason and JUS
tice, or it can follow the group of rad
cals who recognize no rule but that
of force. The first is the American
way, and leads to peaceful adjustment.
The latter is the Bolshevistic way, and
leads to industrial chaos and disaster.
The, men who started the steel
strike that is now on, were led by Will
liam z. Foster, who fathered what is
known as the Syndicalist movement
in this country and as the leader of
it said. "The Syndicalist sees in the
State only an instrument of oppres-
sion, bungling administration of in
dustry and proposes to exclude it from
the future society" 1.-The Syndi-
calst movement is radically opposed
to democracy and the State"
Such statements as these are O
challenge to America. 1t is chal-
lenge to Americans who believe in
their country's laws and government
This is the sort of doctrine that would
throw the country into the chaos which
has caused untold suffering, starva-
ton and death in Russia.
Vital as the steel industry is to the
prosperity and industrial advance
ment of our country, we must realize
that coal is also equally essential and
that conditions in the coal fields are
very threatening. The coal miners
are demanding a six-hour day, and Q
five-day week. This radical demand
if granted, would mean an increased
cost of living against which there has
baen such a cry, and force the bust
ness interest of this country nearer
the chaos in which the radical and Boil
: sheviEi elements are wanting to plunge
them. A demand for thirty HON
week with 60 per cent increase in pay
is neither backed by justice nor com
mon sense. Every able-bodied man Of
sound mind is better off working {
reasonable number uf hours, than hi
is idle. He is better contented, he is
worth more to himself, to his family
and to his community.
On basis of six hours day, ant
five days per week, there would be a
least eighteen hours per week that i!
absolutely waster by every man WHIT
followed such schedule. If such ;
schedule was universally adopted il
this country is would mean industrial
decay and our nation would soon los,
the great advantage that it gainet
during the war.
1t is not the time now to sit idly b!
and give audience to every frey agi
tator who wants to overthrow at an,
cost our civil, political and economi
rights. They ought to be herded to
gether and deported to some ISLAM
where they could enact any laws tina
suited them.
The greatest need of the hour is |,
keep busy, keep prosperous, keel
American.--Cape Girardeau Sun.