New-York tribune., 1919-01-06
Creation of New Left Vino
Threatened - Aldermen
of Party Are Criticised
designations Demanded
Lee Accused Of Favorins
''CapitaIists'' in Order
to Obtain a Passport

Dlsscnsion has broken out in the
ranks of the Socialist party. which
threatens to result in the creation of
new left wing, or extreme radical
group. A meeting of the party's Cen.
tral Committee for Greater New York
which was to have been held tonight
at the Peoples House, East Fifteenth
Street, has been called off to prevent
widening of the breach, II is said
The dissenters charge that the seven
Socialist members of the Board of Al
dermen have not been active enough.
that they have supported measures in
troduced by Republicans and Demo
Gratis which were ''unsocialistic,' aud
that this was brought TO a climax when
the Socialists entered no objection to
the unanimous appropriation by the
aldermen of $4,000 for the temporary
triumphal arch now being erected on
Fifth Avenue at Madison Square. AL
dorman Algernon Lee, head of the Rand
School, is charged with favoring
capitalist" measures in order to en-.
hsnce his prospects of obtaining pass
port TO go to the International Socialist
and Labor Conference at Lausanne
Switzer rland. Mr. Lee is one Of the
three delegates recently selected by The
party.
Call Aldermen Apathctic
The dissatisfaction of the dissenters
with what they call the apathy Of the
Soclalist aldermen, together with plsns
Tor forming new and more radical
group. came at meeting of the Cen
tral Committee last week One dele
gate introduced resolution caliing
upon the party's aldermen to itsicn.
julius Gerber, the secretary, who pre-
sided, IS alleged TO have used "machinc
tactics IN sot permitting the resolu.
tlon to come to vote. Thcrcunon
about one-third OF the 15o delegates
withdrew and held an independent scs
sion.
Protests were then voiced without re-
straint. So/ of the delegates favored
ousting Gerber and Tie aldermen and
placing extreme radicals in control o.
the party. The aldermen were
charged with not having put up enough
night against the passage of the ordi-
nance which prohibits the use Of tho
rcd flag in street demonstrations
IF the Socialists had been on their
Jobs the plutocrats never would have
been able to put over that anti-red
flag law shouted one delegate. III
they go on that way it will soon be
against the law to be Socialist"
Aggressive Methods Suggested
A committee was appointed to con-
slider the adoption of more aggressive
methods for the party.
This movement has been going on
for months" said an official al Socialist
headquarters yesterday "The rank and
iile OF the Socialists feel that the party
IS making more progress in Europe
than 1t is making here Ever since
Morris Hillquit has been Ill anc un~
able to take an active part. the move
ment has been drifting. Now VIC pro
pose to get all the extreme radicals
together and put some pep into things
II we can't arouse the aldermen to
offer measures III line with the party
platform. we will oust them and pu,
IN new men. We feel that Lee is sim
ply trying to curry favor so that he
can get his passports"
Mr.. Lee admitted yesterday that
there had been "some fighting"
But" he added, we are always
fighting. 1t is one of the princjnles
OF Socialism to fight We believe in ii.
However, don't think there is much
danger OF serious split. It was only
a small family affair"
Mr.. Gerber said most of the onnosj.
ton had come from Brooklyn. He de-
MED he had obstructed A resoutjon
calling for the resignation OF the al
dermen and said that the meeting
winch was scheduled for tonight had
been postponed for reasons Other than
to prevent fight