The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-05-29
MIR. KAPLAN DEFENDS
POLICY OF PEACE
Defines Attitude Of Socialists Towards
Barbarity Of War in All
It's Forms.

1.-The Independent Order of Ameri-
cans has petitioned the government to
investigate the Socialist party of the
United News item.
One of the allegations in the COM
plant being that in case of war be-
tween the United States and other ma
tions that Socialists are pledged to
engage in anything that will termi-
nate a conflict" Awful to eontem-
plate, is it not? Socialists are against
war, against the letting of human
blood, against men promiscuously
killing one another. Some persons
may consider such ideas reasonable
to the state, for if all men were in
oculated with that kind of belief the
lion and the lamb would verify be
lying side by side without fear of one
destroying the other. To those per.
sons who believe that war is an es-
sential to civilize man may be per-
mitted to put a few questions?
Is war aught other than legalized
murdem
Why is war declared between ma
tions If other than because Of differ
ences over property rights?
Are men in reality so brutal at heart
that only through carnage can they
be made good?
Can harmony and love and peace
come only by killing off the strongest
and bravest among us-for if war does
| anything it does just this? :.
Can war be justified on moral, relig-
ious or ethical grounds?
is it not true that war is an evil
0F %1o x1yS1a
men, as savages and barbarians, killed
in order to, feast upon the entrails Of
| the vanquished?
Is it perhaps because Nautilus pro-
mulgatei a doctrine that if there were
| not wars and pestilence or something
that would check human growth that
the earth would in a short time be-
come overpopulated?
! If the Malthusian doctrine is true,
then Mr.. Roosevelt ought to be taken
to task for preaching the doctrine OF
breeding large families.
| We Socialists-all of us-plead
guilty to the charge that we are
against war. No need of Investigate
ing charge that we are ready to ad-
NIT as true. If civilization-even such
! as we now have-cannot see the hor-
rors resultant from war, then civiliza-
ton itself is worthy only of being de-
stroyed. Tell me, you cynics who dis
agree with us and hurl at us the
charge Of icing towards because for
sooth we will not shed blood, what
| has war ever accomplished for the
progress of the humak race?
Supposing we were to put it to 6
| IF ho 81
whether they are willing to have their
husbands and sons to go out on the
battle fields to wade in each others
life blood. how do you think they
would vote?
Can it be possible that the Creator
has intended that man shall breed ir
order to kill? To build in order tt
destroy? Must we suffer all the pang:
of hell in order to appreciate the bless
ings Of heaven?
Socialism does not build on hate
nor war, nor death.
Socialist aims to unite society,", no
to divide it,
Socialism aims to abolish classes
not to perpetuate them.
Socialism aims to make men re-
spect one another's rights and not t
trample upon them.
Socialism aims to develop nation
of brothers, and not of malcontents
Socialism demands that every hui
man being be afforded the oppcrtun-
ity of developing normally and natur-
ally his real SELF
Socialism contends that there cal
be no lasting civilization, nor car
there be peace under conditions wher,