The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1920-05-27
Shall Chaos or Reconstruction in
Europe Follow the Great
World War;
RADICALISM IN THE SADDLE
Without a Definite Program, People
Everywhere Are Demanding
Change In Present Conditions
Threat Of Direct Action"
Article XII.
BY FRANK coMERFoRp.

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 this
radicalism-lt is without form. 1t
Isn't a 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 hagpole,
now defending 1t, carrying 1t and fol
| lowing 1t. | am sure they do not know
what the red flag stands for. To them
| 1t represents a protest against things
as they are. Summed up In 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.
| attach much significance to the
new attitude of organized labor I'm
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 II they were not aeceded
to. This step is an Innovation; it is
revolutionary.
The working men are citizens and
have voice In the government equal
with all other citizens. After the peo- |
pie 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 autocratlc. |
Government of the people, for the peo- /
pie, and by the people, means all of
the people. The effort on the part
of minority In the labor movement,
who challengingly call themselves so
cialists, to dictate to the state, repre-
senting all of the people, is an attack
upon democracy. II 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.
| witnessed many demonstrations I'm
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
political 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 stab
in the back the men who went to the
to fight and die for freedom?
| should much prefer to see all of the
burglars released. If l 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
Hers be sent to Russia. The agitation
On this point was so strong that when
he British government attempted TO
lend soldiers to Russia last summer
1919, the soldiers mutinied. and so
ar as | am able to learn the feeling (
vas so strong, the situation so critical, G
he government did not dare COURT '
martial them. t
Third, they demanded that all con- d
cription laws be abolished. (
1t is apparent that these demands, v
oming from a minority, backed by Il e
hreat, constitute an invasion of the Il
lights Of the people. The question /,
sn't whether or not one believes these S
hings should be done the issue is the S
lethod resorted to. Personally / do II
OF believe soldiers should be sent to d
.ussia. In my opinion allied inter h
has been stupid and harmful, "
ut If these matters Of general public e.
ollcy are to be decided. all Of the II
eople should have vote In making IL
p the verdict. s.
When you consider this new atti- II
lde Of labor in conjunction with the d,
rowing popularity Of direct action" D,
indicates that the labor movement "a
losing faith in law and political &C
on. am not saying that their ex-
,rience with politics, their betrayal
7 men they have supported, the de- ,s
ult of political parties to carry out =
reelection pledges, may not be re- =,
,onsible for a distrust in political ~
! am not denying that nj
pital has had the ear Of government q