The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-06-19

principle which would bind them 10
defend their country, after their
try was already engaged in a life and
death struggle in which il was who'll
~ right, was either ~cowiardice or
worse. For physical cowardice there
might be some negative extenuation.
But the inspiration of this move OBJ
viOusly came from pro-German
sources within the Socialist party,
which indicates that it sprai.g from a
desire to betray the country into the
hands of that very imperialism
against which these same Socialists
that back the innovation so Justify
pirate.
1t will be noted that we have made
no accusation against the patriotism
of Socialists as such. Neither shall
we denOunce the Socialist party as
unpatriOtic regardless of what the
totals in the count of noses in the
referendum may show. For we pre-
fer to define the Socialist party as
That body of voters who cast their
ballots for the candidates nominated
on either the Socialist or the Socialist
Labor tickets with a view of carrying !
into effect "A political and economic
theory of social reorganization. the
essential feature of which is govern
mental control of economic activi-
ties "
The so-called Socialist party which
is voting on the question whether
all war is wrong or not, comprises
but a fraction of this number. The
Socialist Labor party is not connected
with it, but that organization is in
significant in numbers. But most of
those who vote the regular Socialist
ticket are not permitted to vote in this
referendum. For the ~so-called party
that is determining the question of
its own loyalty is a close association
and for all practical purposes a
lodge. A man may nave voted the
tickets which it nominated every year
since its organization, but unless he
make application for admission in
regular form and get voted in and pay
regular dues like a lodge member, he
has no voice in either the nomination
of the ticket or the drafting or adop-
ton Of the platform. Most of those
who vote the Socialist ticket are thus
disfranchised from all participation of
selection of candidates or definition
of principles.
At this time this fact is of para
mount Importance. Even should the
association vote to assume a t%raitorous
attitude as a result of pro-German
vaccinations, and should the major
ity of the members place party above
sountry (and we do not believe that
they would, still this vote would in
no way bind or affect the half mil
lion or more voters, who cast their
votes for Benson last fall and who
in the larger sense the real
Socialist party.
When Mr.. Benson says therefore,
that he will withdraw from his asso-
citation should it become a pro-Ger-
adjunct, he not only takes a po-
sitiOn in conformity with sound citi-
zenship, but assumes an attitude in
conformity with the majority of the
real Socialist party; namely, the ma
jority of the men who vote the So
cialist ticket.
The Times believes that Socialism
is erroneous in theory and in practice
and confuses functions that are clear
ly governmental with those that are
purely i~ndividualistic. But his be-
lief is not here or there at this time,
when the question of maintaining just
against imperialistic agrees
is at stake. We can thresh
our differences on these questions
better when the spectre of military
imperialism has been dissipated.
For the reasons outlined above,
while we believe that Socialists like
those %agitatOrs in Minnesota are far
more reprehensible than honest re-
ligious conscientious DIRECTORS. we
feel sure that they constitute but a
small part of the real Socialist party.