The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-12-11

lines, cutting loose # necessary fromc
the apron strings and embargoes OF
party governments. They have not
been able to get together is independ-
emily upon broad international pro-
gram. Their efforts have remained
unorganized, sporadic and timid.
while the governments that hold them
in leash have not been able to emanct-
pate themselves from the sway and
influence of the chauvinists.
Does Better Than Capitalists.
"Capitalistic society, as represented
by the various governments, has not
been able to shake off its extremists
as rapidly and energetically as has
conservative labor. 1t is largely be-
cause of this and because these gov
ernments are too slow in retracing
certain steps that labor has lost con-
fidence in their efficiency and their
moral strength. Labor, therefore, de-
fies their authority by taking recourse
to so-called direct action
1T is unnecessary for me to say
that I am not an advocate Of direct
action nor am I blind to the grave
blunders that labor leaders have
made. They have Overreached them
selves at times. like all other leaders.
But no government can rest its sue
cess and authority upon the mere ex-
ploitation Of wrongs done by its op-
ponents. If it wishes to survive. 1t is
most essential that it clear its own
skirts from mistaken acts or policies.
At present the Bolsheviki and radical
labor find their strongest moral sup
port in the mistaken deeds, past and
present, of governments directed or
controlled by the will or fear OF the
bitter-enders and militarists.
What History Teaches.
"Who can think Of Egypt, Baby
lonia, Greese, Rome, Carthage or
Byzantium and believe that modern
Europe has a charmed life as leader
in progress and civilization? We are
prone to believe that the world mas
grown old and that certain conditions
have reached their final forms IN
which they are to stay. But the world
is as much in a state Of flux as 1t ever
was. The migration of the people Is
as active in our generation as 2,Ooo
years ago. Our large steamers trans
port in a week more people than Hen
gist and Horsa or William the Con-
uueror carried into England.
"Civilization. starting in Central
Asia, kept on marching west-to Asia
Minor, the Mediterranean and east
ern Europe. A few generations hence
will the historian find that it crossed
the Atlantic and made America the
standard bearer? Who knows? II
will depend upon Europe's ability te
arrest the present process Of disinte'
grafton before it is too late.
Tangible Result of War.
Few people realize clearly enough
= that the world at present is suffering
not only from the aftermath OF foul
years of one of the fiercest wars evel
conducted, and Of two years Of con-
tinued determination after the cessa'
ton Of open warfare, with actua
peace still unaccomplished, but alse
from tho consequences of a soc1a
evolution as far reaching as thos<
= connected with the liquidation OF th'
Roman Empire and the French Revo
luton. It is this combination Of cir
cumstances that renders the problem
so complex and so desperately grave
and should make us apprehend lont
period of recuperation. Europe g.
present is like big steamer sunk b1
torpedo. it Is idle to dis
cuss today what kind Of restauran
or social hall she should have whe1
she is afloat again. The first question
is: Can we raise her at ALP TIL
Continued on Page Ttoo. :.
.stssy. Hue, :..s: = ,.s z.~ . Il j. ii. .55