The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-26

workers. in their effort to secure re-
dress OF their fancied or actual
wrongs, ignore or disregard the inter-
ests Of society at large. But while It
must be conceded that both in the Old
World and in this country there have
been too mary of the workers ready
to carry on a class warfare by the
most violent and autocratic methods.
notably in Russia and Hungary: even
in parts of the Old World. and GER
tainly in parts of our own fair land,
the leaders of labor for the most part
have been as truly concerned as those
OF any class to draw away the work
ers from radicalism, especially from
the dangerous paths leading inevita bly,
to social catastrophe and the wreck
of their own best hopes.
Leaving out of view now the self
seeking demagogues. it Is doubtful If
we yet appreciate as we should the
part the best OF the labor leaders have
played in restraining extremists and
keeping the masses of workers within
bounds. We owe 1t to them, no less
than to the common sense and self
control Of the working people OF
America as a whole, that the revolt of
labor has not hared up into revolu-
tionary counter-assault upon the
classes and the institutions Of the
present order that oppose them.
We owe 1t to them in no small de-
gree that the late organized effort at
bomb planting and bomb throwing in
America was nipped in the bud. and
that the strikes that have broken out
threateningly since in many parts OF
the country have not issued in gem
eral nationwide strike. bringing the
business OF the whole country to a dis
astrous standstill The so-cailed
'edict" Of. the railway brotherhoods.
summed up by one Of the labor lead
ears in these words: Labor demands
that America become now the land of
industrial freedom. as 1t has already
become the land of political free
DOM" has, under the spell of the
presidents message and the pressure
OF public opinion, resulted In a prompt
disclaimer of any effort on the part of
these leaders to carry their point by
threat or coercion. Even though they
claim for their 'tripartite plan" in
dealing with the railroads, that 1t is
the only one that promises solution
OF the pressing problems OF the high
cost OF living in submitting It they
quoted appreciatively President Will
sons words about labor and capital
coming to an understanding realix-
ing their mutual relations and inter
dependence and having as their recog-
nized goal some system of co-opera-
ton and profit-sharing.
May 1t not be set down as one Of
many proofs that. except among aliens
and extremists. it is now generally
recognized that capital and labor
must share together in some way that
will be just and fair to labor-that
will duly recognize and provide for
the human element concerned and
render a community service instead of
having sole or supreme regard for
profits?
We all see clearly now that II IL
not achievement enough even to have
won the war ito make the world safe
for democracy" The greater task yet
remains to be achieved. ito make
democracy truly safe for the world"
While on the one hand we are glad
after such victory to be demohilix-
the other to feel the necessity that 10
upon us to mobilize our moral and re-
ligious forces for the completion OF
the great work upon which we have
but entered. Even Herbert Spen-
Ger could see that you cannot get
golden conduct out of leaden lives"
A higher wisdom assures us that
''only the house OF the righteous shall
stand" indeed. except the Lord build
it. There 10 as little hope OF God
less socialistic. industrialism "A there
is of a Goddess and barbarous mill
tarism The industrial or social ac-
gregation Is no better than. the indi-
viduals that contribute to the making
OF II. II was to q master In Israel
that Jesus said. dealing with the new
social order which he came II inaa,~.l