The daily Nome industrial worker., 1916-10-31
DAYS OF REACTION.

candidate for President, sometime ago expressed the belief that that party would poll about two million votes this year. He may be correct. But 1t is very likely that he has an overest- mate of what is the socialist party strength throughout the United States. It seems exceedingly prob able that more than ever this cleo tion. q great number of socialist par ty eve don't say sociaiisD votes will be defected towards Wilson. There is no reason to think other wise. There is every reason to be- lieve so.
 The socialist party vote and the socialist labor party vote have had two very vital points Of difference The former was secured by regular professional vote getting, the latter through the distinct espousal Of socialist principles, however narro" or intolerant of differences. Conse- ouently while Reimer the socialist 1abor partv candidate will doubtless roll up not less than his previous vote Allan Benson may possibly poll lass than did Debs, and certainly may not show proportionate gam in voting to the increase in the so- cialist or proletariat voters. There is some reason for this conjecture.
 These are in fact days of reaction. The war in Europe has not divided more effectively radical opinion i'll Europe than it has done in the Tinted States. The socialist party members are divided on the vital question of preparedness, and such noted leaders as Berger, as Charles Edward Russzl have adopted views which are Iot onlE autagonistie to enc another, but are at variance with the very principles for which tbe party has stood in the past with regard to militarism. Some wei known socialist writers, such a' Eastman. heretofore singularly clear thinking writer and extreme ly radical at that has adopted, ac coratns to report. the banner of op portunist compromise and an nounces his loyalty to Wilson.
 These are not isolated eases either. One could go down th' whole gamut of those prominent il the ranks of the socialist party. ant show that they have been in man! cases trimming their sails and snap ing their course by the winds of op portunism as to preparedness, gov ernment ownership. Mexican policy Wilson and whole lot of other mat ters at which they are kopelessly a outs.
 It is in evidence that a good man, of the publications issued by the so called socialist leaders, make spe cialty of middle class measure which can be regarded as nothing else but palliatives and which sim ply have, in the long run, the re suit of side tracking the socialls movement. They have, quite a mum her especially of late, devoted nor than usual attention to the farmer quite regardless of the bitter figh the farmers have been putting Ill
 Il against the demands of the agrlcul Jural workers and especially tn Aarvest hands.
 Bearing these facts in mind, W can hardly believe that there woul be any such a collosal following fo Benson as two million. If there is it reveals the fact that the move ment is much more progressive i the Unted States than the surfac indications would tend to show
 The great war in Europe has com pelled a rush to either the Wilso or the Hughes banner in the poll tical situation it has evolved.
 Accordingly. although Benson contention that the vast mass of pa cificists in the United States ma this year support him, and tha hence he will get two million votes especially because many disappoin' ed progrossives will now fight UT der the socialist banner having bee deserted by their former leaders may be correct. it seems on it's fac unduly optimistic. Men have thi year become unusually reactionarl Unusually reactionary middle clas nostrums are being sedulously ad yocated as never before, and quit large number who made featur of their socialism in former year