New-York tribune., 1920-10-12
Fear BloOdslned
w hen German,
Socialists Meet
Radical Leaders Threaten to
Assassinate Opponents of
Terms Laid Down by the
Internationale at Moscow
Workmen May Use Clubs
Reds Fail i'll Attempt to
Gain Control of Labor
Unions at Convention
Bv William c. Dreher
special coble to the Trsome


DOWNRIGHT 1920. New York Tribune Inc
BERLIN. Oct. 11.-Possible blood
.hed and split in the Independent
Socialist party at its convention at
Halle on Tuesday are indicated from
numerous sources. The fight will be
over yielding to the conditions laid
Sown by Moscow for admittance of the
independents to the Third Interna-
sionale.
REPORTS from a.! parts of the coun-
urv show that a clear majority favors
tccepting Moscow's terms. Both wings
nj the party are becoming more and
more excited as the day of the con-
fention draws near. The Moscow wing
has been organizing a system of terror
ism to obtain victory. Freiheit. the Of
fetal organ Of the party admits "the
decline in the party's morale has made
frightful progress under the influence
Of Muscovite doctrines" and says that
the Communists wing is unscrupulous
and may resort TO plans to assassinate
its opponents.
Plan of Assassination
Lebedour, one Of the Independent
leaders, several days ago printed a let
ter written by confrere threatening
him with death. To-day Freiheit prints
statement of "thoroughly trust
worthy friend" who talked with one
would-be murderer. This friend ad-
mitted that there exists q far-reaching
organization in the party whose aim
is to kill off the opposition leaders. The
paper describes the violent methods
whereby the Communist wing is seek
ing to seize the party organization.
In Wurtemberg the Communist ma
jority at the state convention dismissed
the old state committee and also made
an effort to obtain editorial control of
Freihelt The committee served notice
on the manager to dismiss the chief edi-
tor. Hilferding and a half dozen other
editors The manager refused to Weld
on the ground that the committee had
proceeded irregularly.
Freihet says that the Halle local
chairman has threatened that members
Of the national committee would not be
allowed to leave Halle and that they
would be beaten TO death. Another
Halle leader said the Mansfield copper
mners would come to Halle armed with
clubs to disperse the convention
Reds Fail to Rule Labor
The first congress of shop councils
ever held here has adjourned There
were 1900 delegates present. A re-
msrkabe fight for control was waged
between the old labor union element
and the newer radical Communist wing.
TIE Reds demanded an Independent
central organization for all shop coun-
ellis, but the right wing succeeded. by
large majority, in giving the control
TO the old trades union central office.
The congress nevertheless was per-
vaded with radical spirit. which was
inspired by strong determination
among workmen to assert far-reaching
control over the processes Of produc-
ton and distribution. The congress
passed resolution asking the German
government 10 stand firmly against the
decision of the Conference Of Allied
Ambassadors to prohibit the construc-
ton Of Diesel motors in Germany, and
even to destroy those now in use in in
dustral work.
The chairman of the congress re-
marked that the Entente was demand
ing enormous indemnities, and also the
machinery with which alone it would
be possible to pay them. He added that
the decision of the ambassadors was