The Washington times., 1916-09-24
P1citiStS OF Socialist
Party Denounced BY
Conference Speakers
j. @. Phelps Stokes and William English Walling De
liver Indictments Against Those Who Oppose
National Defense-Favor War in Some Cases

alton in the United States, II would be
very easy, did time permit. TO mui.
iply readily available evidence tnet
would convince the unbiased that the
very great majority Of the organized 30
cialists Of the world believe In the pro-
.priety of defensive wars. where the
liberties of the people are at stake, ana
where deemed by the people essential to
the overthrow OF tyranny"
Free Lance Socialist.
Mr.. waliing. though not a member
of the Socialist party, declares that
he Is a thoroughgoing Socialist. He
Is a freelance in the Socialist move
ment and does not ally himself with
Socialist organizations because organ
ization restrictions limit his freedom
to criticise.
The European war has proved"
said Walling. that at least 90 per
cent OF the working class will night.
The situation IL the same In every
country. More than 90 per cent OF the
the labor unions-are ready to
night for their country. right or
wrong, and fully 80 per cent OF the
POLITICALLY organized working class
OF every country represented at the
takes the same position. Nor IL there
any indication whatever that this ma :
journalism is growing weaker. On the
contrary, IL Is growing stronger in
every country In the world"
MT. Walling then examined the So
claiIst and labor pacifst groups in the
countries at war, and demonstrated
beyond a doubt that the terms on
which they would like to see peace
declared were SO impossible that the
war would go on TO the bitter end,
even though the pacihsts OF the So
cianst type supplanted the militarists
OF the capitalist type now in control
OF the governments at war.
Only Hope of Pacifists.
The only hope OF the pacifists." ex-
planned Walling, either for shortening
the present war or for avoiding the
necessity OF the future international
police or league to enforce peace or for
making use OF its economic power, its
military power. or both together, Ia that
mere WIN be an early revolution in Ger
As matters are in Germany, Mr.. Wall.
ing concluded that a revolution in the
immediate future Is out OF the question
! there, owing to the powerful militar
machine, which will remain amply able
TO crush internal discomfort. even II the
lasts for years.
! But this military machine" went on
| Walling. lis not the only power OF the
ruling class In Germany. The spirit OF
mental and physical discipline and the
system OF lies taught In the schools have
entered into the souls OF the people
| This Is the result OF a century OF train.
Ing. 1t wan visibly strengthened b,
Two years of Victories. And II Is prac'
ucaily impossible that one or two year,
OF munger and defeat can wipe Il out"
lieve Walling agreed with Stokes, thai
the overwhelming majority OF Social.
lists believe In war In certain cases
namely. when the war Is for the extern,
sion OF democracy"
Hopes for French Victory.
1T is desirable that France should
have a reasonably decisive victory II
the present war" declared waliIng
not because she Is on the defensive
but because she is France, a POLITICAL,
free country. a democratic republic, tn,
result OF two successful revolutions, n
both OF which the working class PLAYED
an important part and got at least
minor share OF the benefits-includinI
the practical humiliation of the land
owning nobility and the clergy as DO
litical powers"
Mr.. Walling explained that he an,
"internationalist Socialists" of hip typ
do not favor any original declaration O
war. but after war IL declared the,
against the autocratic government, be
cause the former represents greater eco
nomic progress.
This is why the overwhelming ma
Jority OF the working class OF tn
world" concluded Walling. land espe
cially OF those intelligent and cour
ageous enough to be economically an
politically organized. say: Let the wa
In Europe go on-until the German PEG
pie learn that there Is a law on cart
N hnf ~ hA KaIQ
will Of the majority of the nations, tn
will of the majority OF the human race.
DIR. Jessie w. Hughan. OF New York
a Socialist pacifist. disagreed with bot
Stokes and Walling. holoing that pre-
pared nations, like Belgium. Away
suffered more than ''unprepared" ma
tons like Luxembourg.
DR.. George w. Wasmyth, of Boston
representing the League to Enforc
Peace. cited the early Christians VIII
refused to fight as the best type OF citi
zenship."