Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-10

county, protests against 0srtaixt1n3
socialistic statements made by iqlii
Wade in sentencing Lee Lang, 1C61ea
tine socialist editor, who vns con.
victed of bootlegging. Mr.. Nwo6d %oes
not attempt to defend Lang, but -
votes his letter 20 defense Of HIN.
self and assertions Of hle.entire 1nRah
ty to the United States government.
SoM6of his interesting
He admits voting Tor the resolutions
adopted atthe st. Louis soctalistic con
vention year ago, denouncing ths
United States participation in thexwar
and declaring 1t capitalfstic struggle
But he condones this exhibition Of
antt-Americanism BY announcing that
he has changed his mind and become
loyal to the American government.
This is the creed which Mr. Elwood
says he and other socialist candidates
IN Scott county have signed:
believe in the United States Uf
America as a government OF tho
people, for the people ~ the ;pee-
pie; whose Just povlJ Alo 1
rived from the consapt1plS t5UI61 i
erned: a democracy m1AtreDubl1
sovereign nation of1monY states
perfect union. one1eu4 1nsepG1.
able; established on 6bose prf8s :
ciples OF freedom, equaoy. .3nseaN,
and humanity forwfdch Amos1l
patriots. .sacr1f5ced I
fortunes.
I therefore believe akasemysaaN
to my country to love =: te
port its constitution; to dlb
laws; to respect its flag :tO-.de-
fend II AGAINST all enAmiaa
Such declarations do n0t3quWoNl1hi
the st. Louis resolutions nor With 4
those adopted last week By tho.state
socialist convention in IlMnois. M,
Elwood, II he is sincere In subscribing
to the creed quoted here, is reading
himself out OF the socialist patty. By
repudiating its fundamental doctrines
and declarations. All he seems to S,nWe
saved out of the wreck OF his former
socialism-if his professed conyeru9oa
to loyalty is sincere-is the, title Of 70
socialist, and he does not prove his
right to that.
This y one instance among many
which may serve to prove what Tho
Courier has stated repeatedly, that II
is impossible for anyone to be loyai
socialist and loyal American at the
same time. Mr.. Elwood practically
makes this admission by repudfatinE
the socialistic denunciation Of the gov.
eminent, but by proclaiming himself
a socialist still he negatives his repedi.
alton and invites suspicion.
Socialist leaders, meeting in Chaca.
go yesterday, lodged the new auf&1e
dition law by releasing members OF
their so-called party from conttnuodSal.
legiance to the St. Louis resolutions.
But the resolutions. stand; they aes ~
expression Of majority Of socdallGls
in a convention; they breathe disaoy-
atty and sedition in every fins. They
have not been repudiated BY the -
called party which espoused thaue
nor did the leaders repudiate- lisa.
Socialism would not be soc602
without its theories and foundun a
disloyalty and destruction. 1Aooe,
with atheism and general sanUah ~
the cornerstones on which nd ~ (
rests. Efforts like those oS M 0Upu0
and measures for selfpg62 - -
as the socialist leaders too& yun1
only lend emphasis to th6 nch 0at
socialism is disloys1 and Int No 60
who claims to be . socialist y yua
Of an Office under the 09ooGk
which socialism seeks to A6Ut1p
Mr.. Elwood, If he desired to SEuloa
his loyalty. could do It bss6 ampH y
announcing his resignation ffuna&6e
so-called socialist party,