The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-01-31
BY LUCIA AAdES MEAD.

0J AOSA<A kA0AESS QAGAfADs
The people in the countries much
nearer to the Bolshevist menace than
ore we seem to be keeping their
heads cooler than are many Ameri-
cans who fear that three or four
thousand aliens can overthrow the
government Of 100000 people.
Said Judge George w. Anderson of
the Federal Court of Massa chusetts:
Il know of no such hysteria in our
history since the witchcraft delusion
as we are witnessing today"
Judge Anderson was during the war
busy in investigating the alleged pro-
German plots. He asserts that ac-
cording to his best judgment "99 per
cent of the pro-German plots never
existed. Il think it is time that pub
licity was given to this view. I doubt
the red menace having more basis in
fact than the pro-German peril.
assert the significant fact that many
Of the same persons who for two years
were taking pro-German plots are
now promoting the red terror"
Beginning with an unprecedented
deportation and followed by arrest OF
thousands of suspects, some Of them
probably dangerous, all thoughtful
people have been shocked into a new
consideration of first principles. At
this time it is we'll to review what
some of the saner minds say as to
developments.
The climax Of unprecedented pro-
ceedings has been the action of the
Albany assembly in unseating five So
cialists. Says the New York Evening
Post: "The EAssenbly's action is q
sinister threat against the fundament-
ais of democracy and representative
government. 1t has arrogated a right
to, interpret a statement Of principle
to an attack against the public well
fare" And it has made all subscrib-
ers to these. principles ipso facto, vio-
lators OF the law. II this stands, no
minority is secure in the future against
accommodation on the ground that
1t is "inimicar' to the public welfare.
In a later. issue, The Post calls atten-
ton to the enormous difference be-
tween socialists and communists and
says: 1.-The party whose elected rep
resentatives have been suspended at
Albany speaks openly Of the suicidal
folly of the communists. In the in
timacy of party debates it refers to
them. as lunatics. Into whose hands
do the Albany tactics play? If their
elected representatives are unseated at
Albany, they will be educated away
from the ballot box. which is the
method of American democracy to the
>$3 80 IN -
can Leninists."
The action at Albany is not q pun
ishment for individual acts, but for
membership in the Socialist party
which for years has polled thousands
of votes at every election. The can
didate for the president Of the alder
men at the last election polled. 100, 900
votes in New York city: The Social
lists claim that they are ''agitation.
education and organization OF the
workers, particularly for the express
sion of social dissatisfaction through
their unions and the ballot box"
The leading clergy OF New York,
Governor Smith, and Hon. Charles r.
Hughes all seriously arraign the ac-
ton of the Albany Assembly. Says
: the editor of the Atlantic Monthly:
1.-The action Of the Assembly is call
culated to make conf1agration where
now there is only q smell Of smoke"
Says Mr.. Holt OF the Independent: III
the majority bars them because they
are Socialists, it will be colossal
crime
Says the Boston Globe in comment:
by the exercise of a simp!s reason
! ing power, it will be clear that the
! course followed by the New York leg
! islature is suited to turn Socialists
| into Bolshevists faster than some tons
! CT literature"
| Anent this action an Episcopal
bishop has just told me: Of one hear
| ing a Hyde Park orator in London
spouting against the monarchy and
! House of Lords and demanding their
| abolition. The crowd blocked the way
and the policeman in attendance called
out, If you want to abolish the gov
eminent, just step over Oh the other
side and don't crowd the path Il
thought the policeman very sensible"
quoth the bishop.
Senator France of Maryland de-
clares, 'Revolutionists and destructive
| radicals of every variety have become
vastly more numerous. All this has
come about since the espionage act
was passed. Now we are told that it
must be made more drastic. How
can it be more drastic without taking
away all liberty of thought and
speech? The present espionage act
is much more drastic than the alien
and sedition laws OF 1898. (These