The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-08-20
WEDNEsDAY EYENINe AUGUST % 1g1y

that controlled were almost entirely IN The prairie states
where agriculture is the dominant interest.
All Of this history lends interest to the report from
Chicago that representatives of labor organizations and
Non;Partsan leagues who met in that city on Monday
decided to form national labor party. We have had
Socialist Labor party since the campaign Of 1892 but
as Maurice Permutter would put it. this Chicago party is
something else again. It IS unless the dispatches telling
OF the meeting are entirely misleading an effort to fom an
alliance for political purposes between the radical elements
among organized labor and the Non-P PARTISAN league which
IN absolute control of the state Of North Dakota where
1t Is making etrong beginning movement to substitute
state socialism for the accepted type Of government
People who arc given TO viewing with alarm are pretty
apt to take rather seriously this latest manifestation Of
lownleysm. The Non-P Partisan league is curious or
ganzahon II composed in the main Of very prosperous
it not wealthy. farmers who say they think in the terms
OF Marian Socialists. That may be doubted but for the
present they pretty well in hand and thoroughly commit
ted to the Iowney program, which far is much more
program than performance if of the reports that have
been coming out of the north during this year may be
trusted But however purposeul the league may be in
North Dakota and even in surrounding states, Mr. Town
ley knows that hocannot get very far unless he can form
an offensive and defensive alliance with political elements
which strong in the industrial part. of the country.
Hence the Chicago effort TO form new political party
on the basis of understanding between capital as il exists
on the farms and labor exists in the great industrial
ceners, both of which, it is blandy assumed are at war
win capital as It Is understood in the money ceners.
1t would be great scheme if it would work But il
probably will not work The best reason for making such
prediction is that it has worked and before Nh
ownley gets very far into it he probably will discover
that he j, no political Christopher Columbus Other men
conceived this brilliant idea long ago. but the average
American citizen objects senuousy to being herded into
class and barganed off by leaders like owney or Debs
AT one stage of their history the Socialists cast almost
million votes in this country. 100000 to be precise, but
oh IL.
vote had fallen to 100000 and next year IN all probability
it will not be fifty per cent of that Men in this country
simply will not completely surrender their political rights
into the care of any set of political eaders-and that is
precisely what the schemers back Of the National La
being The fraud too transparent to be dangerous The
hour in which American wage eamers suffer themselves
to be formed into distinctive political party will mark The
beginning of genuine decline in the politics of the re-
public. for who carry class consciousness into their
politics cease TO be full aedged American citizens by the
precise extent of that surrender.