Evening star., 1917-11-02
F|ND|NSOC|ALISM
D|SL0YA[TY CLOAK
Evidence, 1t Is Contended,
Shows Pro-Germans Flock
ing to That Party.
U. S. MAY ACT OFFICIALLY

Politicians are noting the sudden in
crease in the socialist sentiment in the
United States, marking it not for its
significance as a political development,
but in concern over its sinister aspect
as cloaking a movement of disloyalty to
the government in the conduct of the
war. That it is not genuine political
outcropping, for the advancement OF
the understood principles of socialism. is
proven, it is declared, by the fact that
the real socialists, such as Spargo. BUS
sell and others, are leaving the socialist
party and its candidates for the period
of the war.
That the term socialist and the party
itself are being used by pro-Germans.
by anti-draft and disloyal elements
of the population for purposes of Or
expression at the polls of opposition
to the course of the government. is
firmly asserted and believed in many
quarters.
Instances Cited In Proof.
Specific instances in proof are cited
in political circles. The most signfh-
cant occurred in Buffalo fortnight or
So ago. Primaries were held for the
mayoralty nomination. The democratic
candidate received about $4,000 votes,
the republican, 1900, and the socialist.
$4,000. the normal socialist strength
being about 1000.
Now comes the rub: Analysis OF the
vote by wards and precincts by the
local political managers disclosed the
fact that sections Of the city In which
there is a large population OF German
descent furnished the vote for tne so
yond dispute, 1t is said, that this other-
wise fnexplicable jump in the socialist
vote was definitely located by the re.
turns to the wards where voters OF
German descent and sympaenles Pr. Pr
they fiocked to the socialist ticket TO
express their advocacy OF Immediate
cessation Of the war, peace on any
terms, which. of course. means peace
on German terms IL declared now.
Socialism Their Defense.
In a western state recently twenty
seven farmers were indicted by the
government for Opposing the Draft epd
advocating submission to refsrsn-
dunn of the question Of whether tho
United States shall continue IN the war.
II ia reported that these men we're Ger
mans, speaking the German language
and living in a community BY tnem-
selves. They pleaded that they were
MI a
their political opinions. which they
claimed a right to entertain. They VIII
be tried for sedition. !
Men who have come eastward re-.
Gently, and reports from responsible
sources in the middle west, insist that
in wisconsin, Minnesota and the Da-
kotas pro-German sympathy Is crystal
lfzing to expression in support OF the
also said to be coming other elements
of general disgruntlement. disahectfon
and dissatisfaction. but the anti-war
increment is the most important.
Some politicians think that 1t may
vet devolve upon the Department OF
Justice to inquire whether there is q
central pro-German directing force re-
sponsible for this aggregation about
the socialist banner OF the pro-GermAnS
or whether it is but a spontaneous
preston Of remonstrance against active
and further participation by the United
states in the war. The Department of
Justice, it is said. is already aware Of
the situation.
Keeping Eyes on New York.
The result of the balloting in the
New York mayoralty campaign will be
watched with the greatest interest by
the politicians and by the government.
AS is we'll known by this time. Hillquit.
the socialist candidate for mayor.
openly advocates immediate steps for
peace and abandonment Of war activ-
tiles by the government. He has been
disavowed and repudiated by leading
socialists as unrepresentative of the
genuine principles of socialism, and
branded as a socialist Of the type Of the
Lenine.
While in New York city it will not be
easy to definitely distinguish the Hill
quit vote with reference to the location
Of the German-descended population.
the aggregate vote will be illuminating
when compared with the normal social
ist vote of previous years. Mr.. Hill
quits speeches. it is reported in the
New York papers. are being taken In
shorthand by agents Of the Department
of Justice, presumably for after-inspec-
ton as to possible seditious utterances
which might bring him within the pur-
view of the law.