New-York tribune., 1918-02-28
He Believes Propaganda
Could Do More to Aid
Russian Revolutionists
Socialists Would Help
Declares Masses of Central
Powers Could Be Reached
by Aid of Neutrals

The defence of the Russian rcvolu-
ton has the approval Of the Socialist
party, although any military assistance
American Socialists might render to
Russia would be negligible. Morris
Hillquit, of the national executive
committee of the Socialist party, said
last night
Mass meetings called for tonight
and tomorrow night to stimulate the
recruiting of an American guard for
active military service in Russia are
independent of the Socialist party, he
added
1he plan to raise an army here to
defend the Russian revolution is, no
doubt, very romantic" Mr.. Hillquit
declared II believe however, the So
clallsts of this country could render
much more substantial sarvice to the
cause of democracy and progress by
getting in touch with the people of
Germany and Russia.
Says Socialists Could Aid
0A4oNe euiS coClu De dcnc with
the aid Of Socialists of the other Allied
countries, and particularly with the
ala or those in neutral countries who
could serve as the medium oil com
nunlcation with the anti-war Socialists
Oh germany and AUSTRIA
~, Referring TO the letter printed in
. ne Hpune Yesterday signed by
bfehJamin Saphir, Of the business of-
fee of the Jewish newspaper, "Tbe
Day, Nh. Hillquit said:
AS to his concrete plan of fo,n,,.
an army to defend the Russian revo.
iueion, It's practicabil.ty may. of
course, be questioned. As to nv abil.
ity or htness Tor the task. / am some.
what IN doubt, as | have had no pre.
viouS military experience. Also, ! can.
hot be unmindful of similar attemn+
oF Mr: Roosevelt and its utter failure.
put speaking more soberly Mr..
oaPhlf expresses sentiment which, in
substance, is psobab y shared at this
tlme by large numbers of Socialists
and radicals. We all feel that the re-
cent Developments on the Eastern
'front.' nave advanced new problems to
the world, particularly to the advo-
ca'es OF just peace and a democratic
world arrangement after the war.
he young democratic republic NJ
RUSSIA seems in danger from yiolent
aggress'ons OF German militarism and
autocracy. 1t seems to me that tho in
,erestS OF social progress lie in the
Ilfectlon of supporting the people of
RUSSIA and III that connection OF en-
c,oufeglng and helping the people of
the Central Powers to overthrow their
institutions of militarism and iunkor-
dom
a r.,p al
also believe that an international
9oclallst and labor conference would
be most potent at this time +o
strengthen the Russian opposition and
TO stimulate German opposition to the
war policies Of the governments Of the
Central Powers
The meeting to be held at Parkview
Palace, Fifth Avenue and 10th Street,
tonight, is under the auspices of the
Socialist Propaganda League. Its pur-
pose Is Ito enlist sympathy for and
discuss the advisability of enlisting an
American Red Guard for; active mill
tary. service in Russia, and to appeal
to the German workers to set against
their government"
Louis c. Fraina, formerly director
of the short-Iivcd Bolshevist Bureau of
information. will act rs chairman. Tie
speakers will be Arturo Giovannitti.
|: ". W. poe and philosopher; Andre
Tridon. Bolshevik champion organizer
of the Futurist Society of America, and
A. SchwartZcnfeld
The mass meeting tomorrow night
at Aeolian Hall, 90 West Forty-second
Street, is under the ausuices Of the
Jewish Socialist League and the Ameri
can Alliance for Labor and Democracy.
John Spargo will be the principal
sneaker Other SOeak kars will bo n,
Anna 1ngerman. recently returned from
Russia with anti Bolshevik convictions;
DR.. n. Syrkin and DR.. Charles Zhit-
lowski