New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-24
SOCIAL DEMOCRATS
HOPE FOR A DRAW
See Danger to Cause Both
in German and Rus
sian Victories.
fsrt,lu Correspondence 10 In, TrIluns !

London, Jan. 13.-ln an interview to-
day with a representative OF The Trib-
une two Russian Social Democrats de-
clared that il Russia prevailed over
Germany and Austria IN this war Il
would be the greatest blow TO socialism
and liberty that could be struck. Il
was asserted emphatically that IT would
likewise be a terrible blow TO socialism
in Germany if the Germans were vic
tors
ct must be draw 1t was said by
ono OF the Social Democrats, "or else
liberty and freedom will have lost most
Of the ground which mas been gained
Both Russ slams have at different times
been incarceratcd in prison. Neither
was willing to let his name be pub
lished because OF the intention OF re-
turning to Russia in the near future,
and IL WAS on this understanding that
they were willing 70 speak OF condl-
tons M Russia to-day. OF the views OF
many of the socialists there. and OF the
hone 10 call a meeting OF Russian So
cial Democrats IN London some time in
the near future 10 Offset the arguments
advanced by some Russian Socialists IN
favor Of their government and the pol
icy II now pursues.
You ask me about conditions in Rus
STA about the attitude Of the Social
Democrats said one of them. 1T ia
easy 10 answer. The war is q popular
war. but the Socia- Democrats think
just as they did before il began. Il IS
not popular with u We see the
writing on the wall 4 victorious Rus
STA. and then YOU Will hear Of more
prosecutions. They arc going on now.
but the papers here do not say 80 be-
cause Britain is an ally OF Russia. We
expect to hear any day that five Social
Democrats. members of the Douma, will
be sentenced to death or 20 Punishment
FOR life TO Siberia. They are Schagof,
Miranof, Badaiew, Petrofski and Sa-
muilof. They were arrested because
they were found comforting together
and handed over 20 the martial court
in the Government Of Niborg.
But that is not all I'm peace times
We have no death sentence in Russia.
but We do have in time OF war. II is
an exceptional law very exceptional.
There was some labor trouble in fac
tory i'm Lisowskaia. and the head of the
company operating the factory was as
sassinated. As result twenty-five
men working in the factory were SER
fenced to death in secret trial. Some
OF them may have been guilty. but when
efforts 20 apprehend them failed, then
all were sentenced to death"
Referring 10 the conduct Of the war
10 WAS said that the Cossscks had been
guilty Of many gross outrages in Ga
licia. whore the women had been sub
jccted 70 the worst ndignities.
an England We hear Of the German
atrocities. but not OF the Russian" said
The Trbune's informant, but that is
not 30 be wondered at In the first
place. If the English newspapers were
willing TO publish such stories they
could not get them. because the Rus
sian censors would not let them come
out, and. in the second place, If Eng
lish correspondents sent them they
would most likely not be printed be
cause Of diplomatic reasons. II is true,
though. that the Cossacks have scourged
Gailcia, and the facts have been pub
lishcd in some Of our Socialist papers
issued in England and on the Cont
ucut.'
II was futile. it was added. for any
Of the Social Democrats TO protest
against such atrocities or against the
war. because the war was popular at
least. popular in sense. II was as
serted that the simple minded peas
antry had been led TO believe that they
were fighting for their homes, and not
for Russia's aggrandizement.
When the war is over, though. u was
said there would be efforts made TO
read ont Of the party some OF the in
flucntial Social Democrats who had
permitted themselves to be won over to
the causes OF the war. They should
have maintained silence and been apa-
thetic. even if not openly hostile. is
the way which il was explained by the
two Social Democrats interviewed