Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-05-01
Shall Chaos or Reconstruction in
Europe Follow the Great
World War;
RADIcALlsM in THE SADDLE
Without a Definite Program, People
Everywhere Are Demanding
Change in Present Conditions
Threat Of "Direet Action"
Article xl.
BY FRANK coMERFoRD.


class sympathetic. The Industrial
centers are hotbeds. The conservatism
of the farmers and peasants is break
ing down 1t is hard to define this
radicalism-ft is without form. 1t
isn't definite program, it isn't even
political. The people are dissatisfied.
The red flag is popular. It promises
short cut. 1t answers the cry Of the
impatient. was surprised to see
many of the very men who fought so
calamity under their country's flag
and who but yesterday would have
torn the red flag from the fiagpole,
now defending 1t, carrying it and fol-
lowing it. ! am sure they do not know
what the red flag stands for. To them
1t represents q protest against things
as they are. Summed up in a word,
the attitude of mind of the workers
Of Europe is eagerness for change
some change-any change. Every
one knows the symptoms, understands
what is wrong, but the remedy is only
vaguely discussed.
attach much significance to the
new attitude of organized labor in
Europe. Labor unions formerly con-
cerned themselves with wages, terms
Of employment, shop conditions, safety
appliances, recognition Of their right
of collective bargaining. Since the
war the labor movement has taken up
questions entirely outside Of its field.
questions properly the concern of all
the people, questions Of government
policy. have in mind recent de-
mands made by the working men in
England, France and italy. These de-
mands were addressed to the regularly
and properly elected representatives
Of the people, the governments. They
were accompanied by threats Of gen.
eral strikes if they were not aeceded
to. This step is an innovation; it Is
revolutionary.
The working men are citizens and
have voice in the government equal
with all other citizens After the peo-
pie have selected their representatives,
the men chosen should be responsible
to all of the people without regard to
class or station. A government by one
portion OF the people is autOcratic.
Government Of the people, for the peO-
pie, and by the people, means all of
the people. The effort on the part
of a minority in the labor movement,
who challengingly call themselves So
cialists, to dictate to the state, repre-
senting all of the people, is an attack
upon democracy. If successful it
would destroy the state and leave the
great majority of the people, including
the workers, less free than they are
now. What sane man, whether he is
a working man or not, is in favor of
minority government?
Demands Hard TO Understand.
I witnessed many demonstrations in
Europe under the red flag, in which
the leaders demanded three things
from the government.
First, they demanded the release of
all the men in jail who were held for
political crimes. These included men
found guilty of seditiOn and treason
during the war. / cannot understand
this demand Why should men be re-
leased from Jail who sought to stab
in the back the men who went to the
trenches to fight and die for freedom
/ should much prefer te~see all of the
burglars released. If / am compelled
i to choose between the traitor and the
burglar, win have no trouble in max
ing my decision.
Second, they demanded that no sol
1iers be sent to Russia. The agitation
on this point was so strong that when
the British government attempted to
send soldiers to Russia last summer
(1919), the soldiers mutinied. and so
far as am able to learn the feeling
was so strong, the situation so critical
the government did not dare court
martial them.
Third, they demanded that all con.
scrlption laws be abolished.
1t is apparent that these demands
coming from a minority. backed by a
threat. constitute an invasion Of the
rights Of the people. The question
isn't whether or not one believes these
things should be done; the issue is the
method resorted to. Personally / dc
not believe soldiers should be sent to
Russia. IN my opinion allied inter,
meddling has been stupid and harmful
but If these matters of general public
policy are to be decided, all Of the
people should have a vote in making
up the verdict.
When you consider this new att
tude Of labor in conjunction with the
growing popularity of direct action.
II indicates that the labor movement
Is losing faith in law and political ac
ton. | am not saying that their ex
perience with politics. their betrayal
by men they have supported. the de
fault Of political parties TO carry oui
prediction pledges. may not be re
sponsible for dIstrust in polltica
government am not denying thai
capital has had the ear Of government