New-York tribune., 1920-01-11
Convention of Independent,
Socialists at Leipzig Casts
Caution Aside in Demand
for Overthrow of Noske
Radicalism Is Rampant
Government Also Has to
Reckon With Monarchists
Who Seek Its Downfall
BY William c. Drehcr

By William c. Drehcr
BERLIN, Dec 16.-Thc first national
convention of the independent Social
lists, which met at Leipzig and ad-
iourned about a week ago. must be
characterized as n important mile
stone along the pathway Of the German
revolution. There is strong drift of
the working classes toward that party
and the enticing bats that it threw
out at Leipzig to the most radical ele-
mentS of those classes will undoubt-
edly give fresh impulse to the party's
Development.
This convention was dominated from
beginning to end by the radical wing
for even in this party there are
moderates and extremists. The
moderates had till recently the one
marked advantage that the party lead
er. Hugo Haase. was their man; but
he died in November. the victim of a
ssmi-crazy workman's bullet. DR..
Osksr Cohn. upon whom the party
leadership should normally have de-
volved By reason of his ability and the
Assembly, found himself decidedly
misplaced in the superheated atmos-
'phere at Leipzig; and even editor Will
ferding. who daily fills the columns of
"Freiheit" with extremely radical ut
terances. found himself sadly out
trumped in the convention and came
back to Berlin to express editoriallv
his disappointment with the turn that
things took there.
Radicals in the Saddle
The convention was ruled bv such
radicals as Crispien and Daumig. and
the action taken by It was of CORE
spending character. Crispien aroused
stormy applause by declaring for the
dictatorship of the proletariat without
any restrictions. The Independents, he
said, must avail themselves of Ger
many's crisis to overthrow capitalism:
and democracy he threw to the winds
with the declaration that the majority
decisions Of the National Assembly had
the effect of merely overpowering the
minority.
The resolutions adopted were quite
IN the spirit of such utterances. They
announced a refusal to take part in the
.99rthcomlng convention at Geneva of
the so-called Second International" :"
by which is meant the international
Socialist organizations of West Euro
pean states, and demanded union with
the Third Internationale." which is
a, clrcumlocution for the Russian Boil
shsviki. This latter line of action is
contemplated as step toward organ
lilng Socialists of all countries around
the Moscow leaders in order to "create
a proletarian Internationale capable
Of action" The resolutions further
demand that the German Independents
put themselves in communication with
lne socialists Of other countries with
view to bringing about such a Boil
sneVlzed International organization. This
nrm!y-cemented proletarian Interna-
'ionale" is to make it possible to give
decidedly world-revoluntionar turn
10 the struggle of the working classes
70 nDerate themselves from the fetters
OF International capital
Slight Influence Expected
The effect in foreign countries of the
adoption Of these resolutions probably
WI! not be very great. Among the
Majority Socialists it is not expected
mat the proposed agitation for great
amaigamated "1nternationale.' under
the auspices of Moscow. will meet with
any success at all in the great coun-
tries of Western Europe The utmost
mat Is looked for is that besides the
psnlsh and Swedish, only the left wing
oi the Hungarian Socialists probably
Will join the German Independents in
Hocklng to the Bolsheviki. The waning
power of the Moscow crowd. as repre-
sented by most of the reports reaching
mere, probably may also check to a
great extent in Germany itself the
contagious power of this declaration
for Bolshevism.
The question that most concerns Ger
many and the world is what imnor.
lance is to be attached to the action of
,ae Leipzig convention. What do the
Independents mean by their loud talk
soout getting the masses ready for ac-
won and tor carrying forward the reyo-
| 'atiof to its end? And are they a real
aanger TO the future stability of the
present. German government?
evidently the government itself does
1 Sos Delleve that the danger is serious
one' Tor 1t selected just the days when
.ae Leipzig convention was in session
,0f announcing the abolition of martial
Il ~, which has been in force here for
slhe months. Perhaps the government,
asWeyer, is too optimistic. Il apparent
y acted upon the belief that the work
" Classes have now grown more sober
M'nded, less inclined to join in great
nhkes than they were hitherto. and
s;ass henceforth there will be no out
sssks OF violence designed to inaugu-
'se new revolution.
Marloh Case Fans Hale
me attacks of the independents
sv0n sne government have never been
we venomous and persistent than pre-
.ssly At this moment. The Marloh
we which ended week ago, has given
powerful impetus to the attacks
yVn Noske and his "bloodhounds," as
-, ~ government troops arc elegantly
n,'so N Independent Socialist gather
20. The acquittal Of Marloh has
49,. ssso intense excitement, too, not only
HsIoas the independents, but with the
sSspolty Socialists AZ we'll The In
ss.ents ss.aaents even charge No.kc with nl-
~ ~ responsibility for the shooting
E.s' Ms tsenty-ninc marines. for which
:i,.ra.w is,sn was tried; and while the re-
.s.Sas Of Colonel Reinhard, the
~. ,s".nder Of the local garrison, was
S..M " sop TO the Independents and
ss.s'snsed 49, d Majority Socialists, It
~ pot ps satisfy them. 1t is demanded
nnzrd be brought to trial.
svs~ssas ss The attacks upon Noske are
sras more and more serious for the
nynment. 1t was he who saved the
hi ramsne in the great outbreaks Of
81 s.s,..."asfy and March, and that is at !
II swmaw WY the independents and
n ssy hate him. He stood in the /
ii ysIxa ne second great revolution, /
u s, ~ 10 set up the dictatorship Of +,
III fsiets tssyas.ar,st. sasr,st. Now they evidently /,