The New York herald., 1920-01-19
seize OLD PARTIES
IN NEXT ELECTION,
SOCIALISTS URGED
Social Democratic League Is
sues Appeal, Advising End of
Third Party Struggle.

Abandonment of the idea OF trying to
combine the radical elements in tho United
States in n third party" with nominees
for President and Vice President was ad-
vocated in an appeal by the Social Demo-
cratic League of America in an appeal to
tho organized workers Of America" made
public yesterday.
Officers Sign Appeal.
The appeal is signed by Charles Edward
cratic League; Henry l.. Slobodn, vice
president: William English wsllinG, sec
rotary and J. G.. Phelps Stokes. treas
urer In part it says
The political policy hitherto followed
by labor whatever it's justification up to
the present time-is no longer effective.
II has not been able to prevent the pres
ent nation wide assault on labor, which.
by putting the forces OF progress on the
defensive against the menace of reaction.
postpones the prospects of any construc-
tive and democratic measures whatever.
The old two party system can be broken
up this year and new alignment brought
about-an alignment that would soon mean
not "A third party, but a new second or
opposition party.
1.-The third party way, however we'll in
tentioned and justified in certain local-
ties, is ineffective as n uniform and ex-
elusive method for the entire nation be-
nately applied to all localities IL would
still further divide and cannot unite labor
politically.
AT the best, recent weeks have already
demonstrated that it cannot count upon
the support OF more than a minority of
organized labor in the fall elections. leav-
ing an embttered and hostile majority
supporting one OF the old parties.
I'VE appeal TO every labor union in the
country to give immediate and careful
attention to the Workers Independent
Political League plan, which is already
in successful operation in Minnesota and
gives every promise of actually ca pturing
THE whole machinery OF that state for
the aIse of labor and democracy and
lelcctng dozen Congressman and Seua-
tor in the fall elections"
Summarizes n Platform.
The appeal suggested that 'labor's bill
of rights issued on December i3 last BY
the four railroad brothcrhoods and l20
national unions OF the American Fedora
tion Of Labor, furnished a platform Ypon
which all workers could unite. The Social
Democratic Leagues platform. based
upon the labor statement. was summar-
lied as follows:-
al. Democracy. in fact as well as name
lThe abolition OF the excessive power OF
the courts over legislation.
"2. Government ownership and CON
troll where practicable and indispensable
for the public welfare. Labor does not
indorse government ownership as a
panacea for all industry, nor does II in
dorse any particular form of government
control. The two chief means OF pluto
cratic domination arc transportation and
credit. Labor proposes merely that con-
| troll over credit should be taken from
fnanciors and vested in public agency
and that the railroads he maintained under
government Administrative for two years
in order that a thorough test may bc
made OF governmental operation under
normal conditions
"3. Profiteering and the high cost OF
living must be effectively dealt with
Here again no irresponsible and dcceiv'
ing politicians promises OF easy remedies
such as Attorney General Palmer con-
tnues TO put forth from day to day, but
n constructive method, pitiless publicity
a direct and truthful means OF revealing
excess costs and profits and prevention
Iof boarding and unfair price fixing.
~. The unrestricted right OF collec-
tive bargaining, which involves the un-
restricted right OF employees collectively
TO refuse to continue at work under terms
they regard as unjust. This Is the systen
OF free labor. When the employer is the
government or some industry OF grave
public concern the principle OF collective
bargaining permits II TO use all legitimate
pressure to induce the employees to ac
cept the terms the government regards
as Just, but the employees equally insist
upon their right TO resist this pressure
as long as the terms offered do not mce'
their. conception of Justice"