The progress-itemizer., 1920-05-21

conclusion that to learn what bol-
shevism is | might with wisdom adopt
the scientific method used by the doc
tor of medicine In arriving at d.
agnOsis. The doctor examines and
gathers the symptoms, the meaning of
the disease. He then determines wat
diseases might produce these symp-
toms. By>a process of elimination he
discards one possibility after another
until at last there Is but one disease
left. one thing that the symptoms can
mean.
| discovered at the outset that most
loosely. Seldom do we give time or
thought to the exact, real meaning Of
things. The meaning of bolshevism Is
too important to the world not to try
to understand II. There is differ.
ence between having the acquaintance
of word and knowing; the former is
a mere Introduction. the latter an In
timacy.
Since the war, when the fastidious
diner wearily orders his consomme
and the waiter brings it bit tardily
or cold. he thinks to himself, or II
courageous enough to speak his mind,
he calls the cook bolshevik. He has
found word to express his Irritation.
1t serves his profane feelings and at
the same time saves his SNUG respect
ability.
See BoIshevism Everywhere.
Once the maid asking for an af.
ternoon off provoked a knowing smile.
Her mistress granted the request
charged 1t up to possible romance
and generally suspected the policeman
on the beat. Since the war ii Is differ
ent. The maid is looked upon with
suspicion. Her motives are questioned.
The request Is considered symptom.
of the Aew terrible disease, bolshevism.
| The mistress thinks to herself: Inc
maid doesn't want to work any more !;
| she Is down with the epidemic.
The office boy. working the reliable
excuse that his grandmother has died
again, to get an afternoon Off to go
to the ball game. is trying to shtrk
work, in the opinion Of his employer
who formerly, when such an appIl'
cation was made from the same source,
chuckled as he granted it, while ms
memory took him back to his own boy
hood days when he used the grand
mother yarn to answer the call OF the
ball field.
Many captains of industry see the
SYMPTOMS of the new dread in every
movement and thought of the workers
The demand for living conditions ana
decent wages are grudgingly received
by minds soured with the thought that
it is bolshevsm.
The hirers of child labor, looking
hatefully at legislation designed to END
child slavery, call the leaders or chlio
life conservation bolshevists. Wheu
doctors and public-spirited men ana
women insist that an irreparable IN
Jury is being done the nation in al
lowing women to work for perlon IN
excess of the hours they are able to
work without menacing their mother
hood, the profiteers from woman labor
cry out: "You are invading the right
of private contract; your are mad with
bolshevism."
Every Sort of Definition.
The wag with the NFit of a barber
defined bclshevism as wild idea sur
sounded b whiskerss. The s;ss|4eaifas
keeper bowled over by prohibition,
screaps 'bolshevism.' The anti-sa-
l-lSpY leaders c,sme back with the an
j1swer, "Your personal liberty cry is
only camouflage for bolshevism."
If anyone disagrees with you, don't
grant him the right to an opinion,
don't reason. with him-just. him
bolshevik The word has become an
epithet, q popular invective, slur, an
insult, an outlet for contempt, con-
tumely and hate. Its parenthoOd in
fiuences our definition of it. Most OF
us see the Russians with the eyes Of
the caricaturistS, who for so many
years have portrayed the Russian as
the moujik with high boots, disheveled
! hair, wild whislers, the face of an as
sassin, the body of a terrorist in ac-
ton the suggestion of a long dagger
smeared with hot blood, under his
| greatcOat.
If a doctor, making an examination
of all of the patients in a hospital,
discovered they ali had certain symp-
toms in common, such as temperature.
weakness and pain, and because of
these findings should diagnose the
sickness of all of the patients as pneu-
monia the doctor would be regarded
d lunatic yet there are men in the
world today who are as foolish as such
a doctor would be. They call every
symptom of unrest without regard tc
its history, bolshevism.
| Copyright. 1920. Western Newspaper Unionl