Sdcial Democrats Bring Peace and Plenty fo Scandinavian Nations
Spink, Reginald
Sdcial Democrats Bring Peace and Plenty fo Scandinavian Nations Laborites Run Gov't In Five Nations By REGINALD SPINK fYURTNG the nine years that ¦FSfre elapsed since the formattao, hi March...
...The latest announcement of the Swedish Government is an annual paid vacation of twelve days for all workers and salaried employees...
...GROWTH STEADY...
...S.D.F...
...In warn of these countries dees the gteial 'Democratic Party possess a dear majority...
...At the turn of the present century they defeated a dictatorship over the American Socialist movement by the late Daniel DeLeon, and now with equal vigor oppose dictatorship over the proletariat by Communists...
...adhere to democratic principles and practices and are opposed to dictatorships—whether black or red, Fascist or Communist...
...Provision is made in the budget for a new emergency program of public works to be applied at the first signs of a new economic crisis...
...Unemployment, sickiHgmd poblic health, old age and :HBdity, are only a few of the ¦Iters covered...
...After the capture of the upper house majority at last year's, election, the Government is now planning the abolition of that chamber and its replacement by a .purely advisory body of experts without legislative powers...
...The last of the Northern countries to come under Socialist influence is Finland, where the labor movement was long under the heel of Fascism...
...They realized, as we do, that the cure for the defects of democracy is not less but more democracy...
...Indeed, had those public works been commenced a year or two earlier, there is little doubt that Sweden would have enjoyed even greater prosperity than she does today...
...j-Since the passage of this act, pciai legislation has been further brpanded to include, among other pings: fair rent acts for tenants lad storekeepers...
...F.D.S...
...Berger, London, Hillquit and Kirkpatrick to triump^ i-nd to plant it firmly upon the edifice of the new social order...
...Exchange control with fu# government control over imports through import boards and licenses was adopted...
...coalitions which also ejpja»ce Liberals...
...By LEO MELTZER Xational Secretary, Social Democratic Federation f*\UR republic owes its existence very largely to early pioneers, who braved the unknown Atlantic so that they might escape the religious, political and economic persecutions and inequalities suffered under monarchical dictatorships...
...The same is true of housing...
...S.D.F...
...Covering yttry phase of social activity and •fecting the life and well-being of fiery single man, woman and child ¦SB the cradle to the grave, this sesame radically reformed and apBalized all existing social ifltdation...
...consider:ng the work of the jumlinn "irr governments, howgmm^ it is necessary, to bear in 322,4 one very important fact...
...Admittedly favored by the possession of rich iron ore deposits and timber, products which find a readier market in the world today than foodstuffs, Sweden's rapid recovery from the economic depression is due in an even greater degree to the vast expansionist program of public works put into operation by the Social Democrats...
...The above-mentioned measures were all carried through in the face of stupendous economic difficulties brought about by falling prices of agricultural productsDenmark's only commodities—in conjunction with vicious restrictions, of exports through the selfsufficiency plans of her customers...
...I<i Iceland and ^SjgkJ the Socialists are junior mSmt* in...
...Sweden, with a more balanced economy, has had an easier task...
...The direct influence of the -S.D.F...
...control of retail ¦ices and price agreements...
...This year's Norwegian budget, with no increase of taxation, provided for new public works, improved social services, and a reduction of three million dollars on the national debt...
...With Vaino Tanner, president of the International Cooperative Alliance, as Minister of Finance, Finland has now embarked on a series of social reforms which definitely brings Finland into the Scandinavian progressive bloc...
...of a conservative ¦¦per chamber...
...and Jasper McLevy, Mayor of Bridgeport, Conn., and National Chairman of the S.D.F., is supported by the entire Board of Aldermen of 15 members of the S.D.F...
...removal of the stigma of RUegiUmacy" by granting children Ism out of wedlock the right to •ear their fathers' names and to a ¦hare in the will, etc...
...The quickest way to lower American labor standard* ia to buy foreign and unfair merchandise...
...LONDON AND HILLQUIT...
...We believe in a social system based on production for use and not for profit...
...We recognize the value of consumers' - cooperatives which, together with trade unions and political action, serve as means of combating the evils of Capitalism and laying the foundations of a soeiety free from economic inequality and injustice...
...The same—general lines have been followed in Norway, where the Labor Government took office in 1935, and in a lesser degree in Iceland...
...Denmark led the way with a huge piece of legislation known as Ike Social- Reform Act...
...a system of production and distribution socially owned and democratically managed in the interests of all producers...
...THE emergency loans raised to meet the costs of these public workers have all been repaid...
...protection sf apprentices, with a guarantee ¦ suitable vocational training and ¦Kstions...
...It is not strange, therefore, that most of the former members of the old Socialist Fa+ty And .their intellectual home in the .S.D.F, and aer bringing to its all their activity, energy and devotion...
...the prohibition of overtime...
...The S.D.F...
...will, live to carry tfee banner of Deb...
...Ja Denmark and Swedes the So(tel Democrats form coalition gov^ment with Radical or Farmer putties^ Moreover, for eight of its -j...
...Preparations for a future depression are also engaging the attention of the Norwegian Government...
...We cooperate with all groups which feel as we do, even though they may not yet see eye to eye with us, including the organized labor and farm movements...
...members occupy positions of importance in numerous labor and progressive organizations, a number are judges, city treasurers, city solicitors, and there are thousands of the "Jimmy Higgius" type who make;of the organization a vital educational and propaganda* movement...
...After five years of Social Democratic rule, Sweden is without doubt the most prosperous country in Europe today...
...Chief among them is the steadily pawing mass of social - legislation jpjrl *"" long since placed the pSliiliiiiivian countries in the front rsak of progressive states...
...Numbered among its members are the majority leader of the New York City Council, who also heads the American Labor Party in that body, and two of the five American Labor Party members of the New York State Legislature and Us leader in that body...
...PROSPECTS BRIGHT *T*HE growth of the S.D.F...
...We of the S'.DJr...
...When we are urged to place' our hope in a "temporary" dictatorship covering one-sixth of- the earth's surface, it is well to remember the ancien Chinese proverb: "He who rides on a tiger can never dismount...
...The whole of j^iif""-'- has gradually come «fer Labor control...
...Plans are being drawn up to induce or compel private companies to consolidate their businesses by setting aside adequate reserves of capital against future emergency...
...Aided by a continuing stream of immigrants and buttressed by an abiding faith in democratic institutions, they and their offspring have practically eradicated religious persecution in .the United States, removed most political and some economic injustices, leaving still to be solved, however, a vast field of economic inequalities...
...B*P facilitate the carrying out of fits program, legislation was Isssed to nationalize the central fah of Denmark.Shareholders were bought, out at market rates and the bank converted into a selfgoverning institution, under government and parliamentary control...
...in the political field is evidenced by the fact that the ' Socialist Mayor of Reading, Pa., and a majority of his CSty, Cfiinofl are members of the S.D.F...
...The only pure w^Si ^government—that of Nor«ry—is obliged on each separate Ss to seek the support of either Jjbereis or Farmers, who together firm the parliamentary balance of eueer...
...Not only do we believe in the attainment of our goal by legal means, through peaceful action, but we deny that people who are as yet unable to use the ballot intelligently, will wisely use force...
...The last budget, introduced in January of this year,'Shows another surplus of nearly five million dollars...
...CHAMPIONS SOCIALIST CAUSE WHEN the Socialist Party-of the " United States abandoned democratic practices in its internal affairs, and joined with the forces of dictatorship against "bogus democracy" (to quote' frem its Detroit Declaration of Principles), most of its members could no longer square their _ Socialist consciences with membership in ah organization which had fallen under the control of those who did not believe in the ideals of that democratic Socialism Which was espoused by Debs, Berger, London, Klrkpatr'ick, Hillquit and others who bad built the American Socialist Movement...
...more humane abortion lets...
...OK ' * * * FF new of this minority position, s policy of rapid socialisation jp, ?•iiously out of the question, ft seed hardly be said that, with assy years of democratic develop%jmgt_ behind them, the ScandiJSfcp Socialialista are keenly .Space of the political unwisdom j^jpy act which lacks popular .Jfewfrtheless, Scandinavian Soc^d Democracy has a long list of QdSeal achievements to its credit...
...Too long had these pioneers suffered from dictatorship, and their offspring in no way liked those who sought to fasten dictatorship on the Socialist movement...
...Education, which is free of charge from the public school to •lamversity, has been vastly improved...
...is * steady and its prospects bright...
...Fights On for True Democracy REPORTS FROM MANY STATES REVEAL GROWING STRENGTH OF THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC L, FEDERATION AS SOCIALISTS FLOCK TO THOSE CARRYING ON THE TRADITIONS CREATED BY DEBS, ffSRGER...
...years of office the Danish gynrnment had to contend with Am absmictior...
...Most of them recognized, as do we of the Social Democratic Federation, that political rights, which the workers have wrested from the employing class, should and must be used in the struggle ^to attain economic or social democracy...
...Sdcial Democrats Bring Peace and Plenty fo Scandinavian Nations Laborites Run Gov't In Five Nations By REGINALD SPINK fYURTNG the nine years that ¦FSfre elapsed since the formattao, hi March 19,29, of the Danish ¦wllfftt Pr J:—1 Government un^ Thorva:<i Staurring, left-wing L>j!innicrt- have been set up sucEmin Sweden, Norway, Ice«pf gad Finland...
Vol. 21 • March 1938 • No. 10
