Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-03-25
Shall Chaos or Reconstruction in
Europe Follow the Great
World War7
RADIcALIsM IN THE SADDLE
without . DEFINITE Program, People
Everywhere Are Demanding
Change in Present Conditions
Threat o. "DirSet Action"
Article xI.
BY FRANK coMERFoRD.

by FRANK coMERFoRD.
RadicaIism in Europe is rampant.
The workers are active, the middle
class sympathetic. The Industrial
centers are hotbeds. The conservatism
Of the farmers and peasants is break
Ing down. 1t is hard to define thls
radicalism-it is without form. IL
isn't a definite program. 1t isn't even
political. The people are dissatlsned.
The red flag is popular. 1t promises
a short cut. 1t answers the cry OF the
impatient. ! was surprised to see
many Of the very men who fought so
kaIlantly under their country's nag
and who but yesterday would nave
torn the red flag from the hagpole'
now defending 1t. carrying II and fol-
loving It. 4 am sure they DO not know
what the red flag stands>for. To them
1t represents protest against things
as they are. Summed up IN word'
the attitude of mind OF the workers
OF Europe IS eagerness. for change
some change any change Every
one knows the symptoUs, understands
what il wrong. but the remedy Is oniy
va OF discussed
.scuse lAch much significance 70 the
u just Ititude OF organized labor "
IS Gull Labor unions formerly con-
zen lie themselves with wages ternA 4
5ioyment slipp conaltI 5slfets !,
egea n .5ilsss e - 81 IN IN
7 u Collective " BIZ EssIins. sEsslss sles s
/ war the labor movement has taken 1f
/ questions entirely outside of its fieid
questions properly the concern OF all
the people, questions Of government
.oolicy. I 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 theSbtssple, the governments. TheS
were accompanied by threats of gen
eraI strikes if'"they were not accedeo
to. THIS step Us an innovation; 1t Is
revolutionary.
The working men are, citizens ano
have voice in the government equa'
with all other citizens. After the peo
ple have selected their representatives
the men chosen should be responsive
to all Of the people without regard 70
class or STATEN. A government DS ont
norton of the people is autocratic
Government Of the people, for the pee'
ple. and by the people, means an Vi
tho people. The effort on the parl
NJ a minority in the labor movement
who challengingly call themselves so
cisIixtS. to dictate to the state, repre-
senting all Of the people, is m attach
upon democracy II succeSs1ul II
would destroy the state and leave th'
great majority of the people, including
the workers, less free than they ar,
now. What sane man, whether he i
a working man or not, is in favor OF
minority government?
Demands Hard to Understand.
witnessed many demonstrations II
Europe under the red flag, IN Whici
the leaders demanded three things
from the government.
FIRST they demanded the release o
nj, the men in jail who were helu io'
no,iticai' crimes. These included mel
found guilty of sedition and treason
during the war. ! cannot UNDERSTAND
fbis demand. why should men be re
leased from Jail who sought to star
In the back. the men who went 10 tn
trenches to fight and die for freedom
7 should much prefer to see all oil th
burglars released. II ] am compelle'
"a choose between the traitor ana III
burglar, will have no trouble in mnh
ing my decision.
second. they demanded that no so
dIers be sent to Russia. The agltatio
on this ,poiut .wRs so strong that whe
the British 'goEernment attempted
send soldiers to Russia last summe
(1efe), the soldiers mutInied' and
5 f,E astI AM able TO learn the feeln
wns so strong, the situation so critica
the government did not dare cour
martial them.
{ Third, they demanded that all col
scription laws he abolished
II is apparent that these demands
J canning from n minority, backed. by
5 threat. constitute nm Invasion of tn
!, rights " the people,E The auestio
: isn't whether or not one believes thes
things should be doneygthe issue is th
vetbod resorted Ia. Personally ] d
not believe soldiers Should he sent
Russia. In my opinion aimed tr,te
I. ,,.adlinp has been stupidaand harnifu