Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-03-15
OTTUMWA sEM1WEEKLY COURIER FRIDAY, MARCH 49, 1918

authority was recognized. Only might
and trickery ruled.
Strange as it may seem, the death
of government in Russia has inspire d
socialists, 'internationalsts" and boil
sheviki in American and other coun.
tries. 1t has served as warning In
those countries, too, but the warning
has been accepted by only part OF
the sane and loyal citizenship, while
the whole fabric of socialism and
anarchy has received the inspiration
and desire to emulate Trotzky and
Lenine.
Germany is plotting to disrupt gov
ernments in the countries Of her enc
mics by sending pro-Germans and
bolshevik agitators into those coun-
tries. to SOW The seeds of anarchy and
revolt, taking cunning advantage OF
the revival of socialism.
Americans must be on their guard.
The machinery for bolshevism is rea-
dy in this country. 1t exists in the
vicious organization fathered by So
cialism. It exists in the one which is
recognized, as it should not be, as
political party. 1t exists in the l. w.
w, the Nonpartisian league, the paci.
fist organizations and the German So
cieties which still flourish despite the
war. It exists in the revivified associa-
ton which high-brow pacifists and So
cialists have formed to fight the pro-
posed legislation for universal mill
tary training.
America has been too tolerant OF
the many agencies designed to upset
American government. They have
been permitted to organize and re-
cruit members openly under a mis-
taken conception Of freedom of speech
and freedom of the press. federation
which merely was foolish before we
went to war becomes dangerous now.
The American citizen who refuses to
regard the menace of anarchy and So
cialism seriously, in the light OF Rus
sia's experience and in the light Ger
many's efforts to sow discord among
her enemies is inviting disaster.
Five prominent socialists have been
indicted by the federal grand jury on
charges of sedition. One OF the
charges against one of them. secre-
tary of the socialist party, is that he
was responsible for the distribution Of
the war declaration which was adopt
ed at st. Louis at convention of the
socialists from all over the United
States.
This declaration is accepted by So
cialists generally as their party's plat
form and their own. 1t reeks with dis
loyalty. 1t gives the following program
for the socialist party:
Continuous, active, and public
opposition to the war through
demonstrations and mass meet
ings.
Unyielding opposition to all pro-
posed legislation for military or
industrial CONSUMPTION.
Vigorous resistance to all reac-
tionary measures.
Consistent propaganda against
military training.
Extension of the campaign OF
education among workers to
organize them.
Restriction of food exports.
1t is this sort of propaganda to
which the socialists OF America sub
scribe. It is clearly in the interest or
Germany and opposed to the interests
of america and all her allies that It
might easily have been written in
Potsdam instead of st. Louis.
No socialist, subscribing to these
aims, can be loyal, and since this is
the latest platform Of the socialist par
ty it commits every socialist to vigor-
Gus opposition to the governments S
war policy and program.
America must be guarded against
the pro-German campaign to extend
this un-American and ruinous, doctrine
throughout the United States. Social
ism, in all its forms and under all Its
aliases, must be recognized in its
true disloyal and pro-German attitude.
The time for tolerating it has passed.