Evening star., 1924-01-25

millions Of laborers. This is due
largely to the collapse of the German
and other European markets for Eng
lfsh goods. II to the collapse In Ger
many. there should now be added an
absolute French embargo. the English
distress would be greatly increased
and. according to leading American
socialist. the pressure bearing upon
the leaders Of the labor party. added
to the faith of those leaders in their
own long-taught doctrines, may
easily drive them to extreme meas
ures OF relief, in spite OF the sobering
tendency OF grave responsibility Of
office.
Since 1920, millions in England have
been supported by doIes from the
public treasury, and the property
! owners have been taxed to produce
the funds. In addition. the British
unemployment grants commission
has considered the feasibility of
s.444 schemes presented for public
works. to- provide employment. and
has adopted 1901 such enterprises,
at a public cost of s140.s3S.64s in
wages paid to workers, on the basis
or 80 per cent OF ordinary wages.
The laborftes are vigorously protest
ing against the reduced wages and
aemand full rates. in spite Of the
paving small wages ii is able to
cover more OF the idle with needed
relfef: The labor leaders point out
Hthat In 75 per cent OF the cases the
wages paid are almost down to what
the worker would be entitled to un-
der the doles without working at all.
| Exaggerated expectations of the
masses OF labor throughout the Brit
| ish Isles. In the face Of the impos-
sibilities OF full relief. seem to make
the course Of the Macdonald cabinet
q "capital .leyy5' which means con-
fiscation Of q certain per cent. not of
the incomes butro the property Of
the wealthy-an.a act absolutely pro-
hibited in the United States by the
fifth amendment to the Constitution.
providing that
mo person shall be de-
prived Of life. Iibery or property with
| out due process OF law: nor shall pri-
vate property be taken for public use
Since Great Britain has no safe
guarding written constitution. any
| parliament may make its own prece-
dents and adopt any law which 1t
sees fit to pass. The present situation
offers no immediate menace OF such such
| labor party holds only a balance OF
power" and not q majority over the
combined forces Of the conservatives
under the late Premier Baldwin
and the liberals under Lloyd George
| Nevertheless. the danger may lie in
England's desperation. IL industrial
| conditions grow worse, and the ef.
| forts of the labor party are apparent
| ly thwarted by a combination OF con-
servatives and liberals. The labor
I no opsN ma ~ ~ n.
| solute majority. even in answer to Its
| first possible overthrow. according tc
American socialists.
a part of the Macdonald program,
/ Is TO nationatize the railroads and
other public utilities. introduce moth.
ers' and workmen's pensions and re-
organising the foreign policy. Rus
| sian recognition Is predicted as GER
tain and immediate. Special attention
| problem. 1t Is significant that out oi
the twenty men in the new cabinet
nine have never earned a living with
their hands.
| While 1t is freely predicted In Eng.
land that Premier Macdonald will be
| unable to pass any radical leGisla.
! tion through the house Of lords. the
| capitalists are said to be scurryina
| to invest in foreign securities and
haa fasn ras osep on than has
for two OF three years.
There is nothing in common be-
| tween the aims Of American social
lists and those of our trade unions
The policy of the American Fedora.
ton Of Labor is not to form a dis
!tinctive labor party, nor to enter par.
tisan politics. except TO support in al
parties whomever shows a. record
favorable to the labor interests. 1,
opposes socialism as we'll as commun.
| ism, although its membership may
contain many individuals bent or
| boring from within"
|. Copyright, 1924. by Paul v. Collins)