Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-05-15

months have elapsed since the armi-
stice was declared and the peace
terms are not yet ratified, the forces
of reaction are already busy apply
ing the subtle influences OF their
invisible system of plutocratic leger-
demain. The propagand aso vigor-
ously waged in certain quarters
against the proposed League of Ma
tions designed for the purpose of
safeguarding humanity against fu-
ture wars, is to me a convincing
manifestation of the fact that while
we succeeded in licking the kaiser
over there, we still have some peo-
pie who will bear watching over
here. The profiteers and their camp
followers, both inside and outside OF
our legislative halls, are an element
of the body polite which deserves
the most careful scrutiny. The price
of liberty is eternal vigilance, and
in the present state of political and
Industrial turmoil throughout the
world, it is highly essential that the
people of our country shall be alert
to all that is transpiring and all that
is impending both politically and IN
dustrially. AS a people we must see
to it that the agencies of good that
have grown up during the war are
preserved, and those things which
may have been necessary measures
of war, but which interfere with the
rightful liberties of the people un-
der q truly democratically admins
tered government in time of peace,
are speedily abolished.
We saw the phenomenon OF up
ward of one hundred million people
who minds functioned one one thing
at the same time, and that was the
winning of the war-and we won
the war! Now, having done that,
don't let us try to fooll ourselves or
anybody else with the thought that
we are going back to pre-war condi-
tions, because we are not, and could
not IL we would: and the political
reactionary and the industrial feud-
alist may as we'll get ready to be
gracefully elbowed off the stage now:
or else he may suddenly find himselr
deposed in q much less gracious
manner.
In the struggle between the forces
of liberty and reaction, labor has
suffered many grievous and bitter
disappointments, but collectively
mankind never rests satisfied with
present conditions. 1t is ever send
ing forth the fond desire, the aspir-
ing wish for something beyond what
is enjoyed at present. The hopeful
tendency of mans nature feeds the
ambition which warns the breasts
of the young, animates the industry
OF the middle aged, and serves to
keep alive the passions of the old,
until the very close of life, and,
surely there is nothing unlawful or
immoral in our wishing to be freed
from whatever is disagreeable, and
to obtain a fuller enjoyment of the
comforts of life.
Aside from the determination of
its followers to continue in the fight
until victory is won, the labor move
ment is not bound by any hard, tast
or Interchangeable rule to govern its
procedure. The essence of its doc
trine is the improvement of the con-
dition of all classes, and it therefore,
alters its means when changed con-
ditions arise. Many Of the tyrannies
that once existed in both political
government and industry, have sue
cumbed to the irresistible force of
truth and justice embodied in the
demands of labor. The mighty, mill
tant force of the intelligently direct
ed power unitedly possessed by the
million, has quickened the public
conscience, and has forced judges to