The Sun THURSDAY, MAY 31, 1928. APOSTLES OF DISCONTENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 368, 31 May 1928, Page 8

The Sun THURSDAY, MAY 31, 1928. APOSTLES OF DISCONTENT

ONE tiling only is plain and straight in the confusion of the American Presidential campaign. This is the fact, the extraordinary fact, that the Socialists choose to run two candidates for election as the first and second citizens of the great Republic.

Observers from a distance are not given much opportunity to see the Rabour nominees on the political battlefield. The scene, as painted exuberantly in the changing hues of a chameleon, is confined to the strategy, the tactics, and the antics of Republicans and Democrats, with a spotlight occasionally turned on President Coolidge in the background as a silent ghost who may yet he persuaded to suffer resurrection, thus proving that, in politics, at any rate, there is, unfortunately, life after death. And yet, in the picture, though unkindly obscured, there are Socialist champions, keen, competent, confident with the optimism of their kind. One is Dr. Norman Thomas, who hopes to win the Presidential race in November; the other is Mr. .Tames H. Maurer, entered as the “Vice-Presidential running-mate.” Dr. Thomas is a son of the manse, pastor of East Harlem Presbyterian Church, and associate-editor of “The Nation and the New Leader.” He is a pacifist and an active Socialist. In his time he has been arrested lor inciting strikers to riot, but baffled the grand jury to indict him. Mr. Maurer is a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature and president of the Pennsylvania State Federation of Labour.

Those are the men, not lacking in the courage and faith that sustained Daniel in the lions’ den, who have entered the political arena of the United States. Their cause is, of course, hopeless. They are known as “the smiling apostles of discontent.” Their policy has not been taken seriously, but the men themselves command respect. Indeed, even the capitalistic newspapers, ruthless as a rule, have congratulated the Socialist party on its highgrade candidates who “will bear aloft the standard of economic emancipation, universal peace and human brotherhood with splendid ability.” In politics, however, sometimes the highest virtues have no appeal at all.

It is admitted that the American Socialists have no prospect whatever of securing a welcome to White House except (which is the inalienable right of every true American) to call on the President and gratefully shake his greeting hand. What hope of success is there for a party of discontent in a nation of small investors, or in a nation which boasts eight motor-ears for every ten families? Thus, as a New York journal observed sympathetically, an American Socialist leader has to say to his followers : “Be miserable, but if you can’t he miserable, be as miserable tis you can.”

There is no lack of misery in the United States these days, but since the country has been nourished on mammoth ideas, merely four million unemployed and a mile-long bread-line in Now York every day are not yet big enough to he counted miserable. It, is not necessary to detail the Socialists’ platform. It, contains familiar planks with the addition of new ones for America, these being “entry into the League of Nations,” and “recognition of Russia,” which unhappy Socialistic continent is learning bitterly that one of the historic laws of constitutional upheaval is that revolutions, in time, swallow their own children. Even the head of Danton and that of the seagreen, incorruptible Robespierre, with broken jaw dropped before death, fell into the basket.

There is much interest, however, in the American Socialist leaders’ view of the Republicans and Democrats. So: “The Democrats are pure when the Republicans are in office. The Republicans are progressive when the Democrats are in office. Both are corrupt and reactionary when in power. Under the alternate rule of the Siamese political twins our people have lost faith and interest in politics.” And such is the comedy of the Presidential nominating conventions and frothy talk.

AN INITIAL VICTORY

ANY doubts as to the fitness of the All Blacks to give a good account of themselves at so early a stage of their tour are removed by the initial victory over the Western Province team at Captown. In spite of their having been cooped up for several weeks on shipboard and having made a long and tiring train journey from Durban to Capetown, the representatives of New Zealand Rugby accounted for their opponents in workmanlike fashion, with a score of II to 3.

With no desire to indulge in early boasting, it may yet he said that this result will pardonably excite a lively satisfaction among Rugby followers in New Zealand. A stiff tussle was expected against Western Province, with the possibility of defeat, for the local team was considered to be a strong one, including several of South Africa’s foremost players. It was not thought, at least in some quarters, that the All Blacks would “find their feet” sufficiently soon to do more than hold their own against a strong opposing combination in the first few days of the tonr. That they have done so well is an excellent augury for continued success.

There should be no undue elation, however. Good as was the Western Province team, there are others of superior calibre; and the All Blacks will find themselves most strenuously tested in some of the struggles to come. The playing fields of the Union are not as soft and easy as those which are to be found in the Dominion and our men will have to battle on hard grounds and receive hard knocks from hardy men in many of their encounters. If South African football is now on a par with the game as expounded by the Springboks who visited New Zealand seven years ago, the All Blacks will face redoubtable adversaries in the test matches. But whatever the conditions and however they fare, they may he depended upon to “play the game,” and to leave South Africa with the respect and goodwill of their dou<ditv kinsmen. c