New-York tribune., 1918-10-27
Socialists Here
Would Free Russia
By Use of Force
Democratic League APP
proves Cancelling of War
Loans to Allies

solemn warning against the pur-
poses concealed behind the so-caled
"internationalism" of the German
Minority Socialists and a resonant de-
mand for the constitution of a gen
timely democratic Russia, if necessary
by force of Allied arms, featured the
opening all-day session of the Social
Democratic League of America at the
Cosmopolitan Hotel, West Broadway
and Chambers Street. yesterday.
At the same time the policies of the
American Federation of Labor were
endorsed, especially that Dody's deter
mination not to treat in an interna-
tlonal labor conference with any en-
envy representative save those in re-
volt against their government
In this connection resolution con-
graduating Karl Liebknccht on his
recent anti-Kaiscr demonstration and
pledging assistance to all republican
III orces within the Central Empires was
passed.
Taking up the subject Of post -bellum
the proposal Of former Attorney Gen
eral Wickersham that this county can
eel the war loans made to the various
Allied governments. 1t added a pro
vlso, however, that such action be
taken solely on the understanding that
the Allies, in their turn, consent to
cancel Russia's indebtedness to them
Only by some such arrangement, it
was declared, can Russia hope to
emerge into the new world cconom-
lcally independent
First Conference
The meeting constituted the first
official conference to deal with world
problems that has been called by the
Social Democratic League of America
the organization headed by John
Spargo, William English Walling and
Henry L. Slobodin, into which the
Socialists who have deserted their or
iginal party, have been gathered The
meeting was called to order by Mr..
Spargo, who delivered the keynote
speech.
By special invitation, delegates from
the Russian Social Revolutionists and
the Czecho-Slovak, Jugo-Slav, Polish
and Jewish Socialist groups were
present as fraternal delegates. To-
day, when the session is to be re-
sumed and final action taken on the
Russian and peace policy resolutions,
these delegates will be allowed to par
ticpate in the voting. so that their
names may be added to the recon-
mendations which it is paned to for
ward to President Wilson.
Much interest was aroused bv the
attendance of delegation from the
newly formed American Labor Party
OF bridgeport, headed by Sam Lavit,
leader of the machinists and tool
makeds' in their recent strike here.
Lavit addressed the conference on
conditions in Bridgeport, which he
declared remained largely unrelieved.
despite the action of the War Labor
Board, and assured his hearers that the
party which has grown out of the
strike in that city is spreading like
wlldtire and that they could do no
more worthy thing than give it their
support.
incidentally, Lavt declared that the
famous presidential mestage which
broke the backbone of the Bridgeport
strike was penncd by former President
Taft.
The onslaught on the German
Socialists was led by Frank Bohn. Mr.,
Walling introduced him as founder of
the friends of German democracy and
a government agent only recentiv re-
turned from study of German con-
dltlons abroad
German Socialists UNCHANGED
linus lar. Mr.. Bohn said, the Ger
man Socialists have given no real
eviuehce that they have changed the
attitude they took when their armies
were victorious.
They have been stuffed with exac-
gerated reports of the French and ItaI-
IAN Minority Socialist movements and
'he attitude of the British Labor
party, he cried, until they believe
mat general revolution is due to
sweep those countries. Once given the
opportunity of an international Social
lst and labor conference, they believe
mat they can capitalize this situation
to obtain establishment of the
status quo ante. That is why the com
plete defeat of the German and Aus
TRAN armies and the overthrow of
their governments is indispensable.
The debate on Russia brought out
some of the most spirited oratorv of
the day.
"If world democracy is to be made
safe,' said Mr.. Slobodin, "there must
ne d SouHd democracy IN Russia. Ger
many, II given free hand in Russia,
could afford to concede every other
point at the peace table She could af
ford to give up her colonies and even
Alsace-Lorraine. In Russia she has a
dozen Alsace Lorraines-s has the
greatest colony in the world to ex
plot"
1--WE are fighting the Rolsheviki.y
said Mr.. Walling. The only trouble
is we are not fighting them hard
enough More troops should be sent.
AS democrats, we cannot afford to sup
port any sort of dictatorship, royalist
or proietariat. In the reconvening of
the Constituent Assembly lies Russia's