The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-03-10
spARco lNDoRsEs LEAGUE
Writer Declares That Failure Of tn
Plan Means BoIshevism.


Plan Means BoIshevism.
New York, March S.--John Spargo,
independent Socialist writer and lee
turer, who was in the city to meet
with Catherine Breshkovsky and 9th
or Russian revolutionists, expressed
the view that the overwhelming ma
lority OF tn American people favored
the proposed League of Nations. 1t
is his belief that If it we're submit
ted to popular plebiscite based on
equal, direct, universal suffrage the
plan would be approved by fully So
per cent. of the men and women of
America.
at is quite evident that many Of
those who are opposing President vii
son and the proposed covenant are
playing partisan politics, looking to
1922 said Mr.. Spargo. "Ex-Presi.
dent Taft is setting an excellent ex-
ample to men and women of all par
ties and sects by his fine courage in
lifting the issue so high above party
interests. flt
"The opponents OF the League Of
Nations are blind as moles to the
greatest and most obstrusiye fact in
the world, namely, the aroused tenn.
per Of the working classes in all ma
lions and their insistent demand for
some International arrangement
which will relieve them OF the bur
dens of militarism and the menace OF
I future wars. 1t cannot be too strong
ly stressed that failure to adopt the
proposed plan for League of Ma,
lions. in substance if not in all its de.
tails, will make Bolshevist uprisings
in England, France and Italy, as well
as in other countries. When was
In Europe last summer this was the
conviction | gathered from converse
tons with working class leaders
everywhere ! went. On several oc
Casions, while in Italy. when in my
speeches l urged the workers t
stand firm and see the allied caus,
through to victory, the audience,
were unresponsive and even sullen
When, however, | referred to Presi
dent Wilson, 10 Americas idealisn
as interpreted by him, and to the pro
posalf for n League OF Nations, ther,
was. invariably, loud cheering an,
uabOundsd enthusiasm 1t was no
the cheering OF politeness to visitor
but the passionate cheering OF mel
Ilwho rested all their faith in tn
American people and in the program
set forth by President Wilson. Onl
that faith kept Them from revolt
Only that faith kept them in the fgh
Let that faith lie disappointed and n
, power on earth will hold them i
check.
Nothing shpr; OF sheer madnes
could lead men calling themselye
statesmen to incur the risk OF plung
= ins the world into anarchical reyol
, as the opponents Of the President ar
doing. Only the hope OF the worker
that the LeagTa OF Nations will SUI
coed stands between US and Bolshl
vism do not mean that the worl
) ors are following President Wilson
They are not behind him. but ahea
of him in many important respects
The scheme which he has fostore
does not 90 as far as most of thei
= would like. They would welcome
r much more radical scheme. one EN-
bracing dissolution Of all nationi
armies and navies and the creatio
of a small international force TIL
= workers know that II the plan
. create Il League OF Nations fails III
various Governments will be force
to create alliances and counter-all
ances. They know that, in that cas-
t they will have TO bear crushing mil
= tarist burdens for many years. an
J. that their lives will be imperiled i
the ever.present danger of war. Tn
they are determined to prevent, eve
I to the extent of revolving and embrg
/ ing Dolshevism.
Q The cry of the reactionaries Thu
the plan Is unconstitutional dol
not impress the working class vel
much. In the first place, the wor
Il ers know full we'll that the same cl
# has been rasied against every mea
f ure of progress. The defeat Of u
League OF Nations would be gre
disaster for Us and for the world"