South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-06-17
JOHN SPARGO AND WOODROW WILSON
AND THE FATE OF SOCIALISM

JOHN SPARGO AND WOODROW WILSON
AND THE FATE OF SOCIALISM.
rather cutting indictment this John spargo.
among the socialist party. hands out in
quitting ranks charging that the organization has
a program that is "unneutral. IN
American and pro-Gsrmsn". He charges that the So
cialist anti-war proclamation Is simply evasive
apology for the whole policy frightfunsss
and international anarchy. de OF the i've
hundred who up the socialist executive national
committee is a writer OF renown and has lee
tured in behalf Of socialism all country. he
says.
MY withdraw, from the socialist party does
not mean that have decided TO
cialisnn. My socialist convictions
intense than Now, always 1 am
socialist an internatonalist and anu-mili-
tarist. leave the party with which have
been ideruhed from It's formation, and IN
which I have been privileged hold the high
est positions the gift Of the members, be-
cause 1 am profoundly convinced that It has
ceased b . efficient instrument for the ad-
vancement OF socialism. For long time it
has been painfully clear to my mind that the
socialist party probably the greatest single
obstacle the progress Of socialism in
America"
Too much unreasonableness. We suppose, is what he
means to say: much anxiety for swift consumma-
tons quick challenges only OF its hated
capitalism all reforms tending toward sooializa-
ton 40 often and quite apparently they
ated from socialist precincts Spargo take
it, belongs that somewhat numerous school not
OF socialists but socialist philosophers semi
socialists evolutionary rather than revolutionary in
their antioipatons sociaized society, and caring
more TOR ultimate they for the
OF them They for social Justice the fulhlmen:
of their ideals fast they get it, but take
.isfacton In seeing
must
However It is MI spargo's pro-Americanism which
just now strikes us strongly. That American
calism should by ndirsction, any process of dere
fiction whether through its antmilitar-
ism or pacidsm permit itself become ally to the
German emperor lending aid comfort to the
enemy" by anti-war procamatons this time is too
paradoxicaI for ready comprehension "A paradox
Eli Perkins taking its tail in its mouth and
swallowing and swallowing until it has completely swal-
lowed itself. the whole snake disappears As il
Illustrative Of the point the following Prest Wilson
in Flag day speech, the manner in which So
ca.ists are being duped by Germany. is distinctly to
the point;
Their present particular aim is to deceive
all those who throughout the world stand for
the rights peoples and the self-government
OF nations; for they what immense strength
the forces o justice and of liberalism gath
ering out Of this They employing
liberals in their enterprise They using
men Germany and out, their spokesman
whom they have hitherto despised and
pressed. using them for their own destruction,
socialists. the leaders of labor, the thinkers
they have hitherto sought. silence. Let
them once succeed and these men, their
tools. will be ground powder beneath the
weight OF the great military empire they will
have set up; the revolutionists in Russia will
be cut from all succOr cooperation in
Europe and counter revolution fos-
tered and supported; Germany herself will lose
her chance OF freedom and all Europe will
arm for the next struggle.
sinister intrigue is being less
lively conducted in this country than in Russia
and in every country in Europe to which the
agents and dupes Of the imperial German gov
eminent can set access. That government has
many spokesman here. in places high and low.
They have learned discretion. They keep with
in the law. j is opinion they utter now, not
sedition. They proclaim the liberal purposes
OF their declare this foreign
which can touch America with danger to
either her lands her institutional set Eng
land a center OF the stage and talk OF her
ambition TO assert economic dominion through
the world appeal to ancient tradition
OF isolation in the politics Of nations; and seek
TO undermine the government with false
OF loyalty to Mt principles"
II is true. every word OF IT, Socialists and other
dupes OF the German masters. criicise say
have been carried by England but who
they who are losing their heads to play into tho
clutches or imperial Germany? Read the presidents
words carefully perhaps YOU Will better understand
what Spargo means when he that the socialist
party is becoming greatest single obstacle
progress OF socialism. sees his voice ought
10 be as that million that the success of anti
rniIitarsm and peace depends absolutely
upon the Of Germany in this and that
socialism in Germany depend for its life upon
Imperial Germany defeat
For German defeat means the crushing Of the Ger
man masters. the right Of the people set
up and maintain such a government a they please
soeialistc or otherwise few more spargos in Amer
lea and few less Victor Bergers and that anti-war