Socialist Leader Thomas Scores Eclipse of American Radicalism

"For the first time in American history there is no strong, recognizable radical movement," Socialist leader Norman Thomas told an overflow crowd in the Quincy House dining room last night.

Thomas pointed out that from the founding of the republic until the death of Henry Wallace's agrarian party in 1948 there had always been some considerable movement or body of opinion advocating a thorough change in the status quo. The lack of a radical party, Senator McCarthy notwithstanding, is uncharacteristic of America, he said.

There are many difficulties in founding a significant radical party, Thomas stated. First among these is the two-party tradition. "I do not think that any new party will ever come to being in America unless it develops rapidly and takes over or supplants one of the two major parties," he declared. He also cited the emphasis on the office of the President and "the very poor institution of the electoral college" as factors inhibiting the development of a third party.

Thomas Attacks Nationalism

Nationalism, "the religion of the absolutely sovereign state," also came in for attack. Any new radicalism must take into account that war for national ends will surely kill liberty as well as men, Thomas stated.

Demonstrating the psychological confusion that exists as a result of nationalism, Thomas cited Khrushchev's "Socialism" and the "Free Enterprise" professed by the American businessman. In fact, he said, the Russian system is one of state capitalism, while lalssez-faire free enterprise is a myth. "Small boys playing marbles for keeps are the only true examples of free enterprise-I recommend them to Senator Goldwater!"

There must be something better than more profit-seeking with social welfare appearing only as a by-product, Thomas claimed. Social work until recently has been small and "free-enterprise"; this Jeffersonian ideal of the small unit is impracticable and the Federal Government must often take a hand, he emphasized.

"Health, for instance, "should be available just as education should be."

"We haven't developed the type of socialism or radicalism necessary to meet the tremendous problems of our lives," Thomas charged. There are till substantial unemployment cycles; automation creates problems; and the conduct of business is still ruthlessly baed on maximization of profit, he stated.