The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-12-24
PAUL WARBURG'S
IMPRESSIONS
Union Labor the Only Sane
Force Today in Chaotic En-
rope.

organized ldDOF is Ine only force
in Europe which is making a sane
endeavor to lead the way out of the
chaos which came in the wake of the
World War, according to Paul M.
Warburg, a prominent New York
banker, member of the Kuhn, Loeb
& Co. financial institution, who has
just returned from an extensive tour
and investigation of conditions
abroad. He presents his views in a
lengthy article which was published
in the New York Times, Sunday,
November ID.
"Organized labor in Europe has
shown itself quicker to recognize its
duties and opportunities" writes Mr.
Warburg. Constructive organized
labor has found ways to get to-
gether across national lines, and it
has shown the courage and vision to
think and act, both nationally and
internationally at the same time. 1t
is organized labor in its various
forms-let us make no mistake
the tide of Bolshevism in Europe.
1t is on the sanity and sagacity of
the leaders of conservative labor
more than on any other factor that
Europe's hopes must rest today"
Mr.. Warburg expresses his admit
ration and appreciative interest in
the vision and broad grasp of the
siuation shown by the British Trade
Union Congress at its recent Ports
mouth convention. He quotes from
resolutions adopted and arguments
presented by various labor leaders
as evidence of the capacity and abil-
ity of labor to have a larger part in
governmental and industrial affairs
of the civilized world. He comments
upon the inability of French and
British financiers to make the prog
ress of reconstruction that had been
hoped for and says that the press of
tho sc two countries keeps the people
in ignorance about the true state of
conditions in other countries, fans
hatred and suspicion mad blocks the
way to inauguration of reconstruc-
ton movements.
(The press of this country is sub
ject to the same charge.-Ed)
Labor Is Showing the Way
LEADERS of business and finance
have not been able" says Mr.. War
burg, "as effectively as labor to get
across the national border lines, cut
ting loose if necessary from the
apron strings. and embargoes of
party governments. They have not
been able to get together as indie
pendently upon broad international
program. Their efforts have re-
manned unorganized, sporadic and
timid, while the governments that
hold them in leash have not been
able to emancipate themselves from
the sway and influence of the chau-
vinists. Capitalistic society, as rep
resented by the various govern
ments, has not been able to shake
off it's extremists as rapidly and
energetically as has conservative. la
Dor. 1t is largely because of this
and because these governments are
too slow in retracing certain steps
that labor has lost confidence in
/ their efficiency and their moral
strength. Labor therefore, defies
their authority by taking recourse
to so-called direct action
at is unnecessary for me to say
that | am not an advocate of direct
action and am l blind to the grave
blunders that labor leaders have
made. They have overreached them
selves at times, like all other lead
ers. But no government can rest
its success and authority upon the
mere exploitation of wrongs done by
it's opponents. If it wishes to sur
vive, it is most essential that it
clear it's own skirts from mistaken
acts or politics. AT present the Boil
sheviki and radical labor find their
strongest moral support in the mis-
taken deeds, past and present, of
governments directed OF controlled
by the will or fear of the bitter
enders and militarists.'
What History Teaches
"Who can think of Egypt, Baby
lonia, Greece, Rome, Carthage or
Byzantium and believe that modern
Europe has a charmed life as a
leader in progress and civilization?
We are prone to believe that the
world has grown old and that GER
tain conditions have reached their
final forms in which they are to
stay. But the world is as much
in a state of flux as it ever was.
The migration of the people is as
active in our generation as 1000
years ago. Our large steamers trans
port in a week more people than
Hengist and Horsa or William the
ConOlerOr carried into ENGLAND