New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-08
Why the Crucible Boiled
Over on the War Issue
And With What Uneasy Reflections 1t Settles Down
Again on the Day After
Election

Mr.. Roosevelt's children Of the cru
chile spent yesterday in uneasy re-
Election. Until bedtime they walked
up and down the highways and by
ways of the East Side with bewildered
and petulant faces. Some were young
and militant Others who grumbled
softly were old and still wore long
gabardine-like coats. II is easier TO
change ones country than ones coat.
This had recently been the most tor
mented humanity Of Europe. Il had
had the initiative and the imagination
to transplant itself. In its own span
Of life-in n few years it had become
a political factor in the greatest Re-
public on earth, with a voice that
could make itself heard, even on the
subject of war.
Voting was not new to many of them,
but on Tuesday they had recognized it
as new power. They rad been strug-
Cling with a problem-the war, the
entry into the European war of the one
country which they fondly hoped would
forever protect them against war. War
had never done them any good. Back
in the old countries where they suf-
fered oppression or punishment or
exile, witnessed their families torn
apart, saw their religion Knocked, they
had never gotten anything but sorrow
out Of war. War bred IN them a ter
ror, an inherent hatred Of il.
The Blessing of Peace
So they came to America. the land
which forever was without wars. They
settled in peace on the East Side. In
peace they prospered. 1t was the one
blessing which Europe had not. Then
America entered the war, dramatically,
suddenly. Hot blooded America hailed
the advent as an adventure. The faces
of Americans beamed with the promise
OF new and thrilling experience, but
the faces Of the East Siders grew wan
with sorrow. II was the old story.
War was the same everywhere 1t
would be the same in America.
Then, last summer, the soldiers be-
gan to invade the East Side. They
pushed and jostled the crowds about
They invaded and broke up meetings
where the East Siders were discussing
conscription. "Militarism." whispered
the old transplanted patriarchs, cit is
the same old militarism."
They cast countenances of resent
ment toward the soldiers or TO Mayor
Mitchell or TO any one else from the
West Side who came in their midst
TO preach war. Their adherence of
war could not be eradicated by any
speeches. They knew war of old.
As summer grew apace new promise
came among them. II was Socialism.
Il had been among them always, but
now il assumed a new significance.
Socialism and Election Day! The com
bination was magical. II spread from
house 20 house. from shop TO shop. 1t
was way 10 oppose the war. Socialist
speakers invaded the East Side, spoke
from the street corners, spoke in pri.
vate and spoke at public meetings.
Their message against the war embold-
ened the East Sders. They were right,
after all. They could exercise their
political franchise to oppose the war.
Socialism and Election Day!
Here is what they did,
Vote 24,lS6
Samuel -- is the proprietor Of a
thriving fur business on Hester Street.
When war was declared Samuel
shook his head sadly because it meant
that his second youngest boy, who was
doing well in the Wholesale millinery
house, would have 70 80. Chance put
the boy in the second draft After that
Samuel was interested in just one part
Of the news-th the occasional dispatches
regarding peace.
a man appeared on soap box near
where Samuel worked and began hold
ing forth on socialism. IL appeared
from what he said that the election OF
Socialist Mayor might have influence
on the war II would let the Presi-
dent know. the speaker explained. that
a. least one portion Of the United
States did not approve ~ H.