New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-20
The Social Democrats and the war
Blu GUSTAV Miller
,J,,, - Nuube, NJ Cermon Social Democrdtc NeHSPuFe

rr;ved Of the ballot. Furthermore t"e
dictionary newspapers demanded
by-election in Oschatz- Grimma tina, '"e
eminent prevent a repetition OF the spe''"@'
of "the enemies of the fatherlana
in numbers. When il became evident 'n"' wy
Social Democratic minority would nominal,
candidate Of its own in the district o.
Potsdam the government used the cVI' '"0'-
/ ilization law enacted a few weeks oelore, W
transfer minority Social Democrats 20 o'"e'
communities, and to make them unaoie "
| fulfil the residential requirements OF the
election law.
On the other hand the court encourage
officers and servants of the imperial mousse
hold and state officials practically all Con-
sentative voters) were, as far as possible
not called to the colors. They remained al
home and voted. Therefore, 1t should De
expected that the total by-election vote IN
the district of Potsdam was well above the
average.
On March % las. Franz Mehring, MINOR
ity Social Democrat, was elected successor 70
DR.. Liebknecht to represent the 18th Berlin
district in the Prussian Diet, although the
majority Social Democratic candidate, brun-
ner, was Endorsed and energetically sup
ported by all other parties, and although
also, according to the Prussan three-cIass
election law that deprives the great masses
in favor of the wealthy-except in few In
stanccs-of any deciding influence, the vote
at the election to the Prussian Diet is public
and every citizen voting for an anti-govern
ment candidate risks prosecution from the
authorities, especially under the martial law
prevailing since August l, 1914 Of the cleo
tors who were elected on February 81 last
2lS belonged to the minority Social Demo
Gratis, to the majority Social Democrats
and % were Progressives, who had been
elected by the first class voters representing
the wealthy.
A Potsdam Trick
The election could be manipulated in one
district, the Kaiser's Potsdam district; but
the same tricks cannot be successfully en-
ployed everywhere. In the 18th Berlin Diet
district the sentiment of the citizens found
its nearly true expression, although the power
Of the government was able to sway the vote
in favor of the majority Social Democrat
Drummer, to some extent.
On account of the sentiment Of the Social
Democratic rank and file, the stand taken by
the Social Democratic majority members OF
the Reichstag during more than two and one
half years seems to be perplexing, but is
easily explained.
"The Kaiser's government cannot risk tax
ing up arms without our consent; if the re
serves and landwehr are called out you vii
find whole brigades made up OF Socialists,
shouted the late Bebel at the German Soca
Democratic National Convention at Jena
1905, amid thunderous applause. Provided
that a quick and concerted action of the SO
cialists was possible during and Immediately
after the mobilization these defiant words
were true then, and still more true, 1914
when the Social Democratic votes had in
creased more than a million and the RAM
and file of the Social Democratic party were
united in their earnest protests against
armed hostilities How is it that the German
government was sustained By the Social Dem
ocratc members of the Imperial Parliament
when it had declared war on Russia and
started the terrible carnival Of carnage and
destruction in August, 1914?
Forced to Submit
Until then the German Social Democratic
marty was regarded as the most consistent
branch of the Internationale and the true
warden of uncompromsng internationalism.
And it caused a good deal Of surprise when
the Social Democrats of the Reichstag voted
for the first war loan and the majority of
them continued the same policy for more than
two years.
In the month of July 1914. the Social Dem
ocrats arranged many great peace demonstra
tions all over Germany every day Unanl-
mously they demanded the preservation of
peace and had the backing of all the Ger
man people except the small but powerful
group of an-Germans. But as soon as the
dogs of war had been let loose the unity OF
the Reichstag party (Fraktion) regarding the
European war was broken, 'and the consistent
Social Democrats were forced into submits
sion by an alliance of trade unionists, oppor-
tunists and pseudo Socialists.
ITO be contmued.)