The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-04-02
Shall Chaos or Reconstruction in
Europe Follow the Great
World War;
RADICALISM IN THE SADDLE
Without a Definite Program, People
Everywhere Are Demanding a
Change in Present Conditions
Threat of "Direct Action"
Article XII.
BY FRANK coMERFoRp.

Radicalism in Europe is rampant.
The workers are active. the middle
class sympathetic. The industrJ1I
centers are hotbeds. The conserv<dsm
of the farmers and peasants IL break
ing down. 1t is hard to define this
radicallsm-ft is without form. 1t
Isn't definite program, 1t isn't even
political. The people are dissatisfied.
The red flag Is popular. 1t promises
short cut. 1t answers the cry of the
impatient. | was surprised TO see
many of the very men who fought so
calamity under their country's flag
and who but yesterday would have
torn the red flag from the fiagpole,
now defending it, carrying it and fol-
lowing it. | am sure they do not know
what the red flag stands for. To them
it represents protest against things
as they are. Summed up in a word.
the attitude of mind of the workers
of Europe is eagerness for a change
some change-any change. Every
one knows the symptoms, understands
what is wrong, but the remedy is only
vaguely discussed.
I attach much significance to the
| new attitude of organized labor in
| Europe. Labor unions formerly con-
| cerned themselves with wages. terms
| of employment, shop conditions. safety
| appliances, recognition Of their right
! of collective bargaining. Since the
war the labor movement has taken up
| questions entirely outside of its field.
| questions properly the concern of all
the people, questions of government
| policy. have in mind recent de-
mands made by the working men in
England France and Italy. These de-
mands were addressed to the regularly
and properly elected representatives
| of the people, the governments. They
were accompanied by threats of gen.
eral strikes If they were not acceded
to. This step is an innovation; 1t is
revolutionary.
The working men are citizens and
have q voice in the government equal
with all other citizens. After the peo-
Pile have selected their representatives,
the men chosen should be responsible
TO all of the people without regard to
class or station. A government by one
portion of the people is autoeratic.
Government of the people, for the peo-
pie. and by the people, means all OF
the people. The effort on the part
of a minority in the labor movement,
who challengingiy call themselves So
cialists, to dictate to the state, repre-
senting all of the people, is an attack
upon democracy. If successful 1t
would destroy the state and leave the
great majority of the people, including
the workers. less free than they are
now. What sane man, whether he Is
a working man or not, is in favor of
minority government?
Demands Hard to Understand.
I witnessed many demonstrations in
Europe under the red flag, in which
the leaders demanded three things
from the government.
First, they demanded the release OF
; all the men in Jail who were held for
polfticaI crimes. These included men
found guilty of sedition and treason
during the war. cannot understand
this demand. Why should men be re
leased from Jail who sought to stae
in the back the men who went to the
trenches to fight and die for freedom
should much prefer to see all OF the
burglars released. If I am compelled
to choose between the traitor and the
burglar, will have no trouble in max
ing my decision.
Second, they demanded that no sol
diers be sent to Russia. The agitation
on this point was so strong that wheI
the British government attempted t.
send soldiers to Russia last summe
| (1s19), the soldiers mutinied. and 81
far as | am able to learn the feeliu!
was so strong the situation so critical
the government did not dare court
martial them.
Third, they demanded that all con
scription laws be abolished.
1t is apparent that these demands
coming from a minority, backed by I
threat, constitute an invasion of tn
rights of the people. The question
isn't whether or not one believes thes
things should be done; the issue Is tn
method resorted to. Personally d
not believe soldiers should be sent {
Russia. In my opinion allied inter
meddlfng mas been stupid and harmful
but if these matters of general publ
policy are to be decided. all of tn
people should have vote in makinj
up the verdict. -
When you consider this new att
tude of labor in conjunction with tn
growing popularity of direct action,
It indicates that the labor movemen
is losing faith in law and political &c
ton. / am not saying that their eS
perience with politics, their hetraya
nv men they have supported, the dc
fault of political parties TO carry GU
prediction pledges, may not be re
spouslble for distrust in politiea