New-York tribune., 1918-02-13
Those Childlike Souls
Bolsheviki and Their Comrades Here
Under Banner Of Discomfort

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: The Bolshcvik resolution to rur
American labor is not confined to the Rus
sian revolutionary emissaries, but is meet
ing encouragement in this country from the
L. w. WIS and radical elements in all par
tles-Socialist, suffragist and feminist This
VIII be clearly seen in the approaching
national conference of labor, Socialist and
radical movements to be held in this city
February 16 and II, announcements of which
were distributed at a recent dinner which
Acknowledgment under the anomalous au-
spices of the Women's Peace party-at a
broadway hotel, February 2. Several hun
ored were present, minglng of college rad
'cals' suffraglsts, feminists, mild old ladies
ana gentlemen of the abolitionist type and
foreign looking men who spoke with Rus
sian CIR German accent Their after dinner
speeches, anti-ally and anti-war, developed
an entirely new trend, and I heard with
amazement that the future salvation of Tho
world lay in Bolshevkism. Everv men+;on
OF the name brought forth wild annlause
In contradistinction to the derisive laughter
""lcn greeted any allusion to religion or
government, compliment which was also
Dr. Magnes, the Jewish rabbi, enumerated
anoh@ good American citizens "the Ger
'"ah-Amerlcans who did not approve of
any war TO crush the German people" and
VIC i''sh-Amerlcans who did not wish to
iur'her war to help British imperialism j"
'Aaughter) Crystal Eastman. Socialist
suHraglst, declared "Since the war We bave
had TWO new words: One camouflaee. stand
ing Tor deceit, concealment, and the other
(o (crles of 'Bolshevik!D Yes. Bolshevik
standing for honesty, simple, childlike hon
esty. (Wlld applause.) If we want a world
"lthout war we must adopt Bolshevik meth-
oos' ohe spoke of the "old times"-I mean
the times before Trotzky (Applause)
"Stand with the Bolsheviki~
@>''!oS flnchot, who was subtly alluded
10 IN his introduction as one who
could not pass through the eve of neod,o -
ai'er explaining nonchalantly and with an
air OF STOPPING prince, that he was nathan
d 'paclfic-pacifist" nor a "Christian" and
apologlzing for defending authority in the
persons of President Wilson and Secretary
BAKER, who were being attacked by the "in-
eerests," exposed what he called the "socre+
treaties of the Allies which have been found
ny tne boshevists." He admired the Germans
-, ,of tne'r union of ideals and action--possi-
p'y WIN Belgium in mind--and declared him
sen as did the other speakers against all
anhe*ao'ons and indemnites. He said that
we must stand with the Bolsheyiki." After
he sat down an unfortunate woman ast;nr
10 De allowed to speak one word in defence
OF the Allies, was Kissed down.
MARY Shaw, actress and prominent suf
iragist Socialist, recited Mrs. Brownnp's
Poet and Mother" as an example of the
hatred of women for war.
lhe last speaker was Lincoln Steffens. who
IS one OF the organizers of the approaching
conference, which, I overheard a man ex-
planning in broken English to an enthusias-
''c Hermlone-like lady, could not be called
Warkmen's and Soldiers Council for fear
OF antagonizing Amos Pnchot! Mr.. Steffens
spoke at length in voice trembling with
emotion OF the "simpie, childlike soul of the
Russian revolutonaries, so beautiful so
primitive, that we could not hope to attain |
it,"
Having read only that morning Harold
Wllllams's account in "The New York Times"
OF conditions in Russia, drunken riots. plots.
lootlng and murder and Lenines threat that
the real terror is yet to come" Mr.. Steffens's
sob-stuff over the Bolshevk soul became
so slckening that my friend and I could
stand no more. We went out of the room
into the fresh air of ali outside world to
which justice, honor reparation, indignation
at cruelty and outrage had not vet become
empty sounds
Sincere Dupes
These people are most Of them sincere
dupes, radicals of all types, theorists united
with anarchists and proc German propagan-
dlsts under the common banner Of dscon
tent. They are prototypes of the literati,
and philosophers who just before the French
Revolution met in the salons of Paris to
acclaim the approaching millennium-liberty
which made life hell under the Reign of
Terror; fraternally, which ended in national
and civil war; equality, which united on the
guillotine the aristocracy and the same
bourgeoisie which is now being massacred
by these "child-like souls"-the Bolshevik
How long will the easy-going American
people remain blinded to the treachery of ;
those to whom they extend hospitality and ;
protection, to the mole-like forces which
under the disguise of other movements seek
the disintegration of our government, the
fomenting of a class war and l. w, W. or
control? If you think this state
ment exaggerated read their literature. at
tend their meetings and judge for yourself.