New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-09
SOCIALISTS HAPPY At
SHOWING THEY MADE
differ as to Whether Roosevelt
Has Been HindranCe or
Help to Them.
THINK VOTE WAS MILLION
Saw Bull Moose Drew Thousands
of Votes from the Cause"
Large Gains in the
Upstate Districts.

upstate OlSII1CIS.
The dawn Of that newer and better day
uben the meat trust, steel trust, coal trust
snd others Of their Tx shall be loaded In
charon's ferry and carried across the
styx into oblivion is considerably nearer
as the result Of Tuesdays election. The
hour when capital and labor shall cease
their warfare and, wrapping the draperies
NJ their couch about them, lie down to
plessant dreams together is already visi-
bic on the political horizon.
Anyhow, that is the view of the leaders
of the Socialist party in this city. There
,esms to be a difference Of opinion. how
aver, as to whether Theodore Roosevelt
has been help or hindrance TO the ulti-
mate success Of the Socialist cause.
Joshua wanhope, who was candidate of
the Socialists for Governor in 1908, and
has been running for one ONCE or another
every election since. maintains that Roose-
welt and the Bull Moose party have been
used merely as tools in the approaching
social revolution In this country.
Frank Macdonald, editor of THE Call"
holds the same opinion, but he puts things
differently.
His idea is that Roosevelt has shown
himself a splendid disintesrating factor,
snd has drawn so many Republicans from
their old party that many will never get
back. but will be found eventually in the
Socialist fold.
Charles Edward Russell who was the
Socialist candidate for Governor this year
and in 1910 takes the view that the
Moose movement took away at least SoO.-
900 votes from the Socialist cause. Mr..
Russell Joins, nevertheless, In the general
rejoicing at the showing the Socialists
made in this election.
Thinks Vote Was a Million.
Mr.. Wanhope said that the total So
cialist vote in this country exceeded his
expectations. He thought perhaps 1t might
reach 500 900, but as it looked now tho
figure might be nearer a million.
Some ardent Socialists" Mr.. Wanhope
continued were OF the opinion that the
Socialist vote would reach million and
quarter. but they had not been long
enough with the party to make an ac-
curate study Of the conditions The in
crease in the Socialist vote this year Is
about all we can handle. l mean by that
that an energetic campaign to hold these
new followers in line viii be necessary.
There is never any let up in the So
cialist campaign. as the public knows. AS
an instance OF this there will be between
goo and 400 speakers advocating Socialism
from various platforms in the city next
Sunday, although the political campaign
has lust ended Our aim now is to solid
fly the recruits we have gained In the
last election and continue our educational
work with renewed vigor
Twenty years ago our first Presi-
Dental candidate was put in the field in
the person Of Simon Wing, Boston pho
tographer, who polled 2,0l7 votes. Now
there are 500 Socialists where there was
one then Roosevelts nomination took
100000 away from the Socialist ticket
but these voters were in an unripe state.
Roosevelt, in other words, polled the vote
Of unrest and hero worshippers."
Mr.. Russell asserted that the Moose
movement did no good as far as the So
cialist cause was concerned, but took away
at least 500 600 voters from the Socialist
party. Mr.. Russell explained that these
800, 900 were only halfway Socialists.
Half Baked Socialists for T. r.
They were dissatisfied with existing
conditions" he went oil, but were car
ried away with Perkins's platform. FER
kins's idea was to check the growth OF So
cialism With the handicap OF the MOOSE
movement and despite the loss Of the sym
pathetic element In the electorate we re-
gard the result as a wonderful step IN al
vance. All those who voted with us must
have been real Socialists. The halt osKeo
Socialists supported Perkins
the result OF the 1912 election marks
steady advance The Socialists have prac-
tiesily doubled their vote since lSA
Political leaders can't overlook the Social
let strength In the future. The party has
a solid foundation Of fighting strength
that must be reckoned with. II ID not
merely a political force, but an educa"
tional force. We have other objects IN
view besides the mere casting OF votes
Victories at the polls are a small thing
in our estimation. The only advantage
GAINED In our electing Socialists to once
is the opportunities afforded to spread our
Espaganda- The defeat OF Berger In
Milwaukee from the Socialist point OF
view was really victory, for 1t took
fusion Of the two old parties to bring this
about. One feature Of the election result
which has come to my attention is the
large Socialist vote In states where
woman suffrage Is In vogue"
Mr.. Macdonald, after calling Colonel
Roosevelt a splendid disintegratinx fac
tor" gave him the epithet OF drum
major OF radicalism." He said, however
that he regarded Mr.. Roosevelt as one Of
the biggest men intellectually in the coun-
try, and added that the Moose leader was
actually working for the Socialist cause
He has shaken from the Republican
party" said Mr.. Macdonald, many vot-
ers inclined toward socialism, but men
whom 1t would have taken US long time
to get without the coloners aid. Mr..
Roosevelt has reached the age of con-
ssrvatism. His fiery spirit has gone.
Maybe now he will sit down and think
rather than act"
Made Big Gains Upstate
U. Solomon. state secretary of the So
cialist party was especialiy pleased with