Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-07-02
~ANTI-AMERICAN
SOCIALISTS
Men Who Changed Residence to
America But Have Not Changed
Their Minds.
(From st. Louis Globe-Democrat.)

(From st. Louis Globe-Democrat.)
Since the Three Tailors of Tooley
Street" in the nursery rhymes issued
their immortal proclamation, I'VE are
the people," nothing that has quite
as much unconscious humor in it has
appeared than the claim of three ac-
cidental, self-appointed delegates to
the International socialist conference
at Stockholm to speak for the social
lists of the United States. The socialists
of America, who are by no means
numerous, are seriously divided as a
party over the war and over all sorts
of social and political issues. The
more important members Of the par
ty has seeded, and out Of their num-
Der the president tactfully selected
Charles Edward Russell to act with
the American commission to Russia,
and he is now in Petrograd with
James Duncan, the representative Of
American labor and their other able
colleagues, while the delegates of the
minority socialist partys who wished
to go to Stockholm, were refused
passports n are still on this side.
Consequently, the three socialists
who are heralded as American dele
gates turn out to be three Russian
born individuals, Two of whom are not
even naturalized, and only one Of
whom represents an actual socialist
organization, the little known social
labor party. While all this is well I'M
derstood on this side, the mischief Of
such self-appointed representation is
that it may deceive the Russian and
other delegates temporarily at, a. time
When, owing to the confusion in Rus
STA, any claimant voice receives an
undue attention, often in direct ratio
to its real value. But the fact that
these so-called delegates have attack
ed Mr.. Russell and Mr.. Duncan as well
as Mr.. Root will probably, however,
open the eyes even of the most doc
trlna1re Russian, kept those who
are carried away by the magic of the
hated word "capitalistic." and they
will understand that men who have
not been long enough in America
even to be naturalized cannot in any
way represent the 100, OOO, 900 for
whom Mr.. Root and the commission
speak We have not yet come to that
pass when those wholly ignorant OF
and Indifferent to our institutions can
claim our name. We are not In any
minority sense even a socialistic
country. We have, as Mr.. Root elo-
quently told the Russians, with many
mistakes and many SHORTCOMINGS.
many imperfections. through 40
years maintained order and resnect
for law, individual freedom and ma
tional Observation-Disclosures that
those opposed to presidents as well as
kings, and who are against all order
ly and delegated authority, have new
er lone.
So it looks as if the American So
cialists," who think they have stolen
a march on the state department by
getting over to Stockholm without
passports, will soon settle down into
their place. They are the typ OF men.
not numerous, perhaps. but often vo-
ciferous. who come over here, change
the skies and governments, but not
the mind; denounce this country as
vehemently as they do the military
autocracies from which they have
fed, and yet, when it pays them. con-
slider themselves Americans, and or
ten claim he privileges and protec-
ton OF the government whose hospi-
tally they abuse. In peace they strut
without harm to any one and 20 scot
free; but the terrible test Of war sorts
out all men, and this is no time when
make-believe nationals of any country
will be accepted as voicing that coun.
;try'sS ideas, ideals OF aspirations. Rus
sia no less than the United States re-
~ciprocally al alone listen to those
who represent the people, not faction
aries who shirk national and govern
mental responsibilities and are really
men without a country.