The New York herald., 1920-01-11
FESS SEES MENACE
To COUNTRY IN
SOVIET METHODS
Representative from Ohio De
nounceS Political Operation
of the Basic Industries.

Simeon d. Fess, Representative from
Ohio. speaking yesterday at the luncheon
of the National Republican Club. said he
would retire from public life before he
would legislate with pistol at his
head Mr.. Fess was the principal
speaker at the meeting, leading a discus
sion on "The Amercanization of Amer
ica" Other speakers were Senator VIII
liam Nj. Calder, Judge Joseph Burlington,
of the u. S. Circuit Court of Civil Appeals,
Pennsylvania; Admiral William S. Benson
and the Rev. Nehemiah Boynton,
"If O,OO0> men in control of the actual
running of the railroads can give orders to
Congress, as they did in 1915, what
couldn't 100000 do?" asked Mr.. Fess.
THE most dangerous thing we have tol
flight is the political operation OF the basic
industries Enough men can be put on
the government pay roll to overturn the
government itself. Samuel Gompers. OBJ
jecting to the anti-strike clause in recently
proposed railroad legislation. SAID that
such law would not be obeyed If the
time has come when laws will not be
obeyed, the government is gone, and
everything is gone.
DenOunccsN Soviet Method.
How about different footing? What
different footing is meant? The present
scheme is dependent upon the contract.
The soviet method is the other, where the
employer is eliminated. That IS the poi
sonous scheme which destroys all initia-
tive and achievement. Just what is
democratiZa ton of industry? If it means
admitting labor to the directorate, then
what assurance have we that within five
years labor would not be within it's legal
rights in demanding a majority? And
that, after ALL is nothing short of the
Russian soviet idea. II we were sure that
one class could never demand control,
then we might entertain the idea.
MY concern is the struggle between
the radicals and the conservatives within
the labor ranks 1t is time for labor to
clean house. and would welcome the day
when no laborer could join union unless
he subscribed TO Americansm."
Mr.. FesS said that he was not worried
over the sporadic radical disturbances
over the country, that his chief worry
was over the general feeling of immun-
ty from the law. This. he said. must
be fought in the schools, the churches
and by organizations of every sort.
Aumtrai rhNors Mhttary Trimming.
Admiral Benson, in brief speech, sug-
Sested universal military training as an
aid to the Americanization movement
The Rev. DIR. Boynton spoke in favor of
an increased reverence for property, for
the family and for the other person.
Both Senator Calder and Judge Buffing-
ton urged that a greater appreciation be
shown for the foreigner who seeks to
become assimilated into American life.
senator Calder was especially forceful in
denouncing class legislation which makes
labor exempt from certain restrictions. He
favors 81 law requiring the federal ncor-
poration of labor organizations.
Judge Burlington. who for many years
has had the opportunity of observing a
large foreign-born population in Penn
sylvania, said
I'VE have never solved the problem OF
Americanization by abolishing the use of
foreign languages in this country. Boil
sheviRs like William z. Foster, a Massa-
chusetts product. are just as dangerous
as the man who speaks Russian dia-
lect. Nor will the abolition of foreign
newspapers help.
The luncheon yesterday was the first of
a series TO be held at the National Re-
publican Club. John Nicoison was toast
master.