The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-05
THEN AND NOW.

THEN AND NOW.
have occurred in the industrial world
since last Labor Day, declares Ralph
NJ. Easley, head of the National Civic
Federation, that really this years cell
ebration, in some respects, might we'll
assume the character of Thanksgiv-
ing for all of us, and this despite alb
normal conditions.
First, he points out we have the
pronounced turning to the Right" on
the part of labor in England, France,
ItalyN Germany and the smaller ma
tions, to say nothing of the wholesome
effect produced upon the labor mini
of the world by the complete break
down of communism in Russia. While
turning TO the Right" in this instance
does not mean that these movements
are even approaching a program ac-
ceptable to American labor which,
thanks to its good sense and patriot
ism, has severed all official relations
with them, it does mean a change
from threatened communism by force
to proposed socialism by "constitu-
tional methods"
Last Labor Day, Mr.. Easley notes.
industry In Italy was headed straight
toward disaster. Thru the weakness
of the Giolitu administration, the
workers were being permitted to take
over the factories by force. To bribe
them to return the factories to the
lawful owners, after they had found
that they could not work them, the
government promised legislation which
would practically give over to them
the management of the plants under
color of law. Fortunately. the Italian
people arose in their might and threw
out the administration responsible for
this outrage and with It went all the
proposed crazy legislation.
In Germany. with a socialist gov
the communists would take control Of
industry with Belshevist money and
later on the government. That, fear
soon passed, but, as in Italy, an at
tempt was made to propitiate the
workers by giving them an elaborate
workshop council system cf govern
ment, hitched up with a fantastic
based upon a combination of guild So
cialism and sovietism with a strain or
two of Whitleyism.
In England = year ago revolution
was in the air. Every one was talk
ing it whether he believed in it or not,
which seemed to help it along. The
most conservative labor man-that is,
conservative for England-signed this
threat of the Council Of Action that
If the government persisted in aiding
Poland to save herself from the red
army of Lenin, labor would call q
general strike. They even cabled to
the president of the American Fedora
ton of Labor calling upon him to
have the workers of America refuse
to move trains or steamers that con-
tanned military supplies intended for
Poland or to work in factories which
produced such supplies. Mr.. Gompers
sent the committee a reply, which. de-
clares Mr.. Easley, was applauded by
every good American of whatever sta
ton in life.
A year ago It was feared that the
miners would tie up all OF Great Brit
aims industries, thru a strike of the
| Triple Alliance to be followed by a
general strike of all the workers.
However. neither of those things
eventuated, but it was due to no lack
of revolutionary zeal on the part of
the labor party leaders. 1t was the
great British public which said, They
shall not pass!"
In this country, a year ago, there
possibilities not pleasant to eontem-
plate. 1t was asked: How would the
workers, as e whole. accept the della
ten in wages that inevitably had to
follow the joy-riding period of high
wages during and Just after the war,
and the Unemployment that certain
ly would accompany It? Would the
railroad workers. the miners and the
dock workers tie up all transportation
and manufacturing by a general strike
that was being predicted by the reds
NJ Moscow, who claimed enough reds
} here IN strategic positions to bring
about the revolution they fondly
dreamed was at hand?
Fortunately, those fears have passed
away. and, while there are still grave
questions to be settled and a hard
winter is, undoubtedly. ahead callins
} upon US TO put forth our best energies
} it Is safe to say that there will be nc
revolution and there will be no star.
walton,
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