New-York tribune., 1918-05-19

HASO44IOl4 ACC
that to go into the campaign on the
st. Louis resolution would be equi-
valent to going to Jail. He has re-
Trained from stating in what re-
spects he would like to see the party
attitude revised, but a private let
ter indicates that he would not IA
vor a complete and unqualified pro-
war stand. It is certain that he car
ries thousands of Socialists with him
in his partial change of front.
Here in New York there is an
oppressive silence among Socialist
leaders asked to state their views on
the war, though there are few who
will not admit that the wording
of the st. Louis resolution is "regret-
table" "unwise," or unfortunate. ;"
1t is known that the Aldermanic
delegation of seven is seriously di-
vided in opinion. Baruch Vladek
and Adolph Held, who particularly
represent Russian Jewish constitu-
encies, are known to be strongly pro-
war. Algernon Lee, who as leader
Of the delegation voted the Social
lists behind the Liberty Bond reso-
luton in the Board of Aldermen, is
likewise generally understood to be
in favor of revision of the party
attitude. The sincerity of these
men is not questioned by their "com-
rades," even those who most strong
ly disagree with them.
Rose Pastor Stokes, wife of John
G. Phelps Stokes, who left the party
with her husband after the passage
of the St. Louis resolution, but came
back alone few months later, is
now openly on the side of the radi-
Gals. She was indicted in Kansas
City, Mo-, some weeks ago for say
ing that this is a profiteers' war, and
that the government is on the side
of the profiteers, and has made
statements of the same tenor fre.
quently. Mr.. Stokes, now active in
the new National party, has fre.
quently predicted that the ST. Louis
resolution would prove the suicide
of the Socialist party. 1t IS not gen
orally known, however, that his sis
ter, Helen Phelps Stokes, has re.
mained party member, presuma.
bly, supporting the majority stand.
St. Louis Platform
Generally Deplored
The refusal of most of the New
York Socialists to be quoted on the
subject of the war makes a canvass
of their opinions in such an article
as this impracticable. In private
however, they were able to give
much Illuminating information
Among all the leaders and the pri
Yates there will be found scarcel,
one who does not deplore the word
ing of the st. Louis resolution.
But, converts" and "stalwarts'
alike, they insist that the Socialis
party has not "sabotaged the war;
or sought to. The party, they insist
has been political organization
committed to the propagation o.
opinion in favor of an early, general
negotiated peace, and against an,
glorification of war, but has no
stepped outside the field Of polite
!, in order to plot against the govern
ment or the execution of it's laws.
The overwhelming opinion seem
to be this, as expressed by one ac
, tive and we'll informed party mem
Der:
= "We should all like to see the ST
!. Louis resolution freed of every trac
- of illegality, for we have no desir
> to thWart existing laws. But W
should be more unanimous in sayin,
so if we weren't sure that the news
papers would interpret the chang
: as an abandonment Of the who'll
traditional attitude Of internationa
y Socialism.
"At the same time, though W
: don't oppose the war, most Of ou
members believe that its prosecu
+ tion is the affair Of the government
that committed us to it. We di
y everything we could to prevent il
We believe that if an internatiens
q labor conference, such as we repeat
2 edlv urged, had been permitted. tn