The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-06-15
SOCIALISM And.
DISLOYALTY TO
AMERICA, SANE,
SAYS WAR BODY
Resolutions Declare Posi-
ton Toward Anti-war
Propagandists
WAR OPPOSITION
TAUGHT BY PARTY
Everything Possible Being
Done To Hinder Ameri-
cas- War Work

Socialism and disloyalty are
synonymous and neither has any
place in the United States today, in
the opinion Of the Fargo War or
ganization, set forth in resolutions
adopted at a, largely attended meet
ing held Friday evening at the Far
go auditorium.
The. report of the organization's
committee on socialism, made by
Judge B. F., Spalding, paved the
way for the resolutions that were
adopted.
The Socialist party, as explained
by Judge Spalding, stands back Of
the notorious st. Louis anti-war
platform, and in his report he pre-
sents that platform in full and
makes a statement covering some
of the conditions surrounding it's
adoption.
Any Socialist backing the St.
Louis platform is disloyal to the
government, in the opinion of the
Spalding committee, and the COM
mittee cites the fact that few So-
cialists have repudiated it and have
put themselves right with the Uni
ed States
The resolutions adopted by the
Fargo War Organization are set
forth in connection herewith, while
the committee report on Socialism
follows:
SOCIALISM VS., LOYALTY.
At a recent meeting of this organi-
zation, a committee was appointed to
report on the platform of the socialist
party relating to the present world
war. We apprehend that the intent
was to have the committee indicate
as clearly as possible the attitude of
the socialist party and propaganda to-
ward our government in this emer-
gency. To that end, we beg leave to
report that we have examined much
current socialist literature and the
party adopted in 1912 by its national
convention. This 1912 platform is the
most recent, except the st. Louis plat
form, which we have been able to eX-
anime and our information is that it
does not differ materially in principle
from other socialist platforms OF re-
cent years.
After it was determined that a state
of war existed between Germany and
the United States, the socialist party
of the United States held a national
convention in the City of st. Louis.
This was in April or May, 1917, we
think the latter part of April. A COM
mittee was appointed to prepare reso-
lutions. Three reports appear to have
been submitted by members Of the
committee. The majority report was
adopted by 40 votes in the affirma
tive to Sc in the negative. Of the
negative, 5 votes appear to have been
given for a conservative report hold
ing that the socialists should support
the war, while 81 of the negative
votes were given in favor of a more
radical report made by one Louis
Boudin of New York. The people who
opposed the majority report and de-
clared. themselves Americans were
heissed by the convention.
t'The Socialist Party of the United
States is unalterably opposed to the
system of exploitation and class rule
which is upheld and strengthened by
military power and sham national pa
trfotism. We, therefore, call upon the
workers of all countries to refuse
support to their governments in their
wars. The wars of the contending
groups of capitalists are not the con-
Germ of the workers. The only strug-
gle which would justify the workers
In taking up arms is the great strug-
to free itself from economic exploita-
tion and political oppression. AS
against the false doctrine of national
patriotism we uphold the ideal of in
ternational working class solidarity.
In support of capitalism we will not
willingly give a single life or a single
dollar In support of the struggle of
the workers for freedom we pledge
'aThe forces of capitalism which
have led to the war in Europe are
even more hideously transparent in
the war recently provoked by the rul-
ing class of this country"
When Belgium was invaded, the
government enJoined upon the people
OF this country the duty OF remaining
neutral, thus clearly demonstrating
fate of small nations and of demo-
cratic institutions were matters that
did not concern it, but when our enor-
nous war traffic was seriously