New-York tribune., 1918-05-14
German War Lords
Denounced in Article
Organization Unlikely to
Enter 1920 Race for
Presidency
Bv c. w. Gilbert

Il VIII Ho!u d isANtoiie'A SoilNeutlol
shortly, repudiate the st. Louis plat.
farm and adopt new one declaring
the war is the peoples war for the
liberation Of mankind.
Having come out in support of the
gar the Socialist party, in the opinion
of some Of its more influential mem
bers. probably will not nominate a can
didate for President in 1920, but will
support the Republican or Democratic
sardidate whichever is the more radi-
al. 1t is practically certain not tc
rsme candidates for Congress next
iai, except in a few districts where i,
& especially strong and likely to win.
The present attituoe of the Socialist
Marty is expressed in a signed article
py Eugene Y. Debs, published in his
psper, the "Secial Builder" printed in
81. Louis.
sThe party no longer can stand or
though he defends adoption of the plat
form at the time.
!. aBut a year of the most extraordi-
nsry and unexpected DEVELOPMENTS has
! passed since that tim. Some
|
| form are now criminal u.fences under
the laws that Congress has passed
1t would be rank folly if not
| absolutely suicidal to enter upon q
campaign in such an attitude and on
such platform"
Platform Would Be :. Bludgeon.
Debs then points out that the plat
form would be used as bludgeon by
enemies to strike down the party.
@The German war lords, their Junker
ales and the military hordes that do
their bidding no longer are in disguise
with reference to the Bolsheviki. They
have shown to the world beyond cavil
that they purpose to annihilate Social
Democracy in Russia and reduce that
great people to nation of vassals.
Tia. is their naked, shameless purpose,
in violation Of their own treaty and
With but feeble rrotest on the part of
the German people.
THE kussIeh proletariat under
ieaine and Trotzky looked hopefully to
the German Socialists to follow their
example and overthrow the Kaiser as
they had ovcrthrown the Car. But
I alas, instead of rising in their might
against the internal Hohenzollerns
they suffered themselves to be used by
the Hohenzollerns in invading Russia
\ and crushing freedom there to make
impossible their own freedom.
we have patiently waited and fer
Mapy noped for something to come
/ all OF Germany. We had been led to
seheye that the great Social Democrat
f.aovement of their country was but
waiting its opportunity to strike for
R1t
likely to come in the way of revolution
from the German Social-Democrats. 1t
has been demonstrated over and over
again that the German movement is
tnehored to nationalism and is ready
TO shed its blood at any time and fol
my purpose the Kaiser may decree TO,
ihe glory of the Fatherland.
Socialists Put Kaiser First
"The Kaiser first and socialism mex,
expresses their attitude in fact if not
N words. They are SO completely
sowed and paralyzed under Prussiar
na'tarism that they dare not take 8
evolutionary stand on any issue IT
the present war. If the rank and file
venture out on strike to paralyze in
ton then the frightened and intimi.
dated leaders hastily order them back
again for fear of being shot like dogs
cy their own Socialist comrades. the
Kaiser"
IT Is no use, says Mr.. Debs, to try to
excuse and make excuses for German
ooclailsts-Lenine and Trotzkv he pro-
aounces virtually the agents of Ger
man Imperialism.
Get together and hold convention,
| a. ne ADVISES, otherwise it will be fatal to
| the party.
Mr. Debs is the most influential of
american Socialists. One of the party
Inscribed him to-day as the "spiritual
Issder' of American socialism. And
wat MS view is representative is shown
" Ihe unanimous vote of the executive
eemmlttee of the Socialist party in Chi
Ego last week, repudiating the St
.e LOUIS platform. Among those who voted
aus was Morris Hillquit, of New York,
y Tno mas not yet come out openly for a
ssasuorm supporting the war, but whose
.slends !. in Washington say he shares
ne views of Mr.. Debs and Victor Ber-
~ OF Milwaukee, who is not thought
agree with the other Socialist lead
~ ~, regarding the platform that is to
SH&ce the st. Louis platform.
Disiliusionment for Party
me st. Louis platform was adopted
~ ~ after the declaration of war by
saIs country. The Socialists were in
assehtion sa;stion at the time and before they
nurned they passed resolutions in
sss5os,'ion to Americas position. They
~ ~ the faith of Lenine and Trotzky
~ ~ The Socialists of Germany, if prop
~ approached, would rise up against
~ overthrow the mltarists there.
i;.;l,ay INK nave since gone through "great
~hs;Ha,nusnionment," precisely that through
",sn president Wilson himself recent
' soaiessed he had gone.
s.;as isotzky experiment has been
sc ~ and failed Germany has crushed
H. SOCIALISTS of Finland, is crushing
,s s,s.. socialists OF the Ukraine and is the
lmssa as enemy of the socialistic move
sss;s S. 70 Russia. In all of these efforts
s'ass az a socialism the German Social
'srs. 'oppofseo 'neir mlilaary mas
me American Socialist party is most
ay;s's s'vhposed Of Socialists of foreign
sln. When the war started German
onnS was strong. Socialist thought
NV a. a. l's inspiration to Germany. Since
S.. y. Louis declaration, Germany by
psl,. ssctsons has made the Finnish,
eess.a ssa and Rumanian Socialists in this
asf;asy ITS enemies. The growth of the
q f".nst movement among the Slavs
Ssssss ssria mas made the Bohemian and
lsssss: socialists in this country strong
I Il sffs'a-Ierman. ~ The Italian Socialists
3 IN ne q nave been won over to the war,
ists sne result til at the Italian Social
Aess,,s sne American party no longer
.he st. Louis platform.
HHson's influence Great
asss i.aent Wilson's influence, more
$nId aIs ~ been large factor in win
4lSis KS KS. Socialists throughout the
d aasied world, and thus those of
zz&& f5sz@e~ceSg5 70 the Suppnr{ re tho mor