Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-06-18
BY William English WaIling Of the
V~igilantes.)
tpditor. and Author Of Socialism As

~ ~
Vigtlantes.)
editor. and Author Of Socialism As
It Is," "Progressivism and After"
Socialists and the War;" Etc.)
What has the kaiser to do with the
Socialists?
We know tina the support Of the
Socialists inside of Germany was re-
garded as very valuable and that
there was not much difficulty in OBJ
tanning this support. But what has
he hope to get from the Socialists Of
other countries? The kaiser has just
two things to ask the Socialists Of
Russia, America, England, France and
Italy:
l. That these Socialists support
him in his demand for peace at such
a time as German arms have attained
their maximum possible strength,
namely. at that time which Clause
tary experts, called the moment Of
z. Tha these non-German Social
lists should create the maximum diff
culties for their governments. for ex-.
ample. by asking for unattainable eco
nomic demands, for a degree Of per-
sonal freedom impossible in war time,
and above all by anti-war riots and
rebellion against all existing govern
ments (outside Of Germany
The kaiser's program for Socialists
(outside of Germany is being carried
out almost to the letter-at least by
a part Of the Socialists in all the en-
tente countries. 1t is hardly necessary
to refer to Russia, as the condition
In that country can be noted on the
first page Of the newspapers every
~ @S~f~~ D,A uvN ->,,k -->oV1 Al.A ~
Socialist party Of America has taken
almost the same position as the So
cialists in control Of the Russian
Council Of Workmen's and Soldiers
Delegates. This has gone g far that
the self-respecting American Socialists
and genuine internationalists are leav-
ing the party on the grounds of its
support of the kaiser's program. John
Spargo, n Of the five members Of the
best known Socialist author in Amer
lea, has already left. Allan Benson,
the candidate for the presidency last
fall, has announced that he will leave
as soon as the party referendum has
definitely endorsed the action of the
recent party convention in St. Louis
which many Socialists have de-
nounced as outright treason.
In France the party is divided into
two almost equal halves, one faction
acting along the aforementioned
Russian and American lines. The
situation In England Is somewhat bet
ter as the British Labor party, an or
%ganization recognized as S~ocialisttc
by the international Socialist organ
ization. is pro-ally; but the two small
er Socialist parties are violently in
basis OF mo annexation, no indemni-
ties" In accord with the plans of the
German chancellor and HIS encourage.
1t ought not to be necessary to ex-
plain how the kaiser has achieved this
result. This is just one more Of the
astounding successes of the German
propaganda such as that achieved by
Bernstorff in the United States and
that carried on by the German agents
in Russia at the same time in the
court Of the czar and among the an
archists. The only difference Is that
a special machinery existed for the
purpose Of winning foreign Socialists
for the katser's use. namely, the So
called international Socialist move
ment. Just as the German govern
ment exercised a vas influence over
Europe by military and economic
pressure. 90 the German Socialists
have for years dominated nearly all
the Socialist parties of Europe with
the exception Of those Of France and
Belgium. When the present war came
on, here was an ideal machine to be
used for the kaiser's purposes-espe-
cially. as the German and Russian
jewish Socialists are predominating
in the United States.
In order to accomplish his double
object, however, the kaiser needed
to make use Of two kinds of German
Socialists. From almost the Begin
ming Of the war the German Socialists
have preached the peace terms desir.
ed by the kaiser. namely. mo annexa
ton, no indemnities," q return to the
war-allowing the kaiser to absorb
his present military allies and COM
pletely to dominate his beaten and
weakened neishhors, who would have
obtained no compromising advantage
out Of the war. All factions Of the
German Socialists also favor immedi-
ate peace regardless OF the strategic
ing on German military advantage,
that Is a peace on the kaiser's terms.
But now came a difficulty. It WA
necessary to gain q popular support
for this program at homo and at the
same time to gain popular support for
1t abroad. This required division
among the German Socialists. The
pro-kaiser majority Is used for the
purpose Of getting support at home,
ports the kaiser It is useless az a bait
to obtain the support OF foreign So
cialists for the kadserB program. The
so-called minority, IN the other hand,
led by the famous world renowned
Socialists, Haas, Kautsky and Bern
istein. opposes the government in do
IHtestic aAirs-thouSh by entirely legal
IAn M thANApnNA AkwrIsrHN1ly 1o NNo1n~. -