Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-11
MATTERS OF SERIOUS CON.
SiOERATiON

The extent of bolshevistic in.
huences on British labor 10 now .
subject of much comment. for
British labor for the first time has
. British premier. who represents
views opposed in greater or less
degree to those which for many
years have obtained respecting
Britain's foreign policy.
The element OF Justice In the plea,
that mono are moro deeply affected
by q governments attitude on Ques-
lions inseparable from possibilities
OF war than are tho worlds workers.
10 apparent to all. They being in
the largo majority the fighters and
tho sufferers must be made up large
ly from their ranks. But whenever
they have attempted to exercise,
as q class set apart. their in
fiuence It either has been minim-
lied or misdirected. 1t was 80
in Germany. the protest o. the
socialists against war proving puerile
in the face OF actualities. The work.
srs OF Russia were to control the
void and up to date have only sue
ceeded in becoming the tools OF n
tyrannical oligarchy at home.
In England labor Is trying its
wings in the matter OF world
policies. It's performances ere
watched with more soIicltude than
confidence. The power which It has
IL OF a temporary nature because
II exists only by reason OF a dead
lock between other parties. Any
change in the policies thought deep
ly to affect the empire would be
likely to break that deadlock and
sweep labor from power. Neverthe-
less the situation is somewhat
menacing because OF its possibilities.
Under this. England recognizes
Russia without reservations, ends
for the time being plans for a naval
base at Singapore: advocates the
admission OF Russia and Germany
to the League OF Nations. regards
ornaments as IL no use in settling
dif1culties or preserving peace.
Whatever may be the outcome of
these steps. the tendency which has
brought them about Is more cause
for apprehension. The aspirations
OF those who class themselves as
labor" are as human, as patriotic
as those of other human beings.
Their outlook in the nature OF things
endures limitations greater than
that OF those OF wider experience. 1t
is natural to most OF us to feel that
II given wider scope of power we
might accomplish more. An I'M
fortunate feature OF this Is. that de-
feat In the limited scope which we
may have only whets our desire for
tho wider and confirms us in the
supposition that IL we had had 1t
we might have succeeded. The nee
esslty of slow growth for enduring
power cannot be fully comprehended
by those. who by some chance have
suddenly come to power. This is
III
The proletariat ascribed none OF the
failures OF their plans to their own
incompetency or the impracticability
Of their ideas. On the contrary
they ascribed It to limit OF area
The whole world must come under
tho rule OF rcd revolution. They
have sQuandered millions for propa-
ganda TO bring this about. They
feel cramped in country with $780,
100000 people and almost unlimited
resources. Instead OF utilizing the
opportunity. which has come to
their hand, they are dreaming of
world empire before attempting to
adjust affairs at home.
II Is very evident British labor
has imbiHed IN some degree this
view OF q world OF workers. Their
strongest leaders are in charge. men
OF ability and general soundness of
vision. Circumstances environ their
power. but whether they may be able
TO check this delusion which is rot
ting the morale OF those obsessed by
II Is q matter Of serious considera-