New-York tribune., 1920-01-26
The Socialist Party
Mr.. Walling Calls Whole Organiza
ton Bolshepist

ton BOlSHcpfSl
To the Editor Of The Tribune,
Sir: You have done a public service In
your editorial on the Albany inquiry.
In distinguishing between Bolshevism
and Socialism you quote the pre-
eminent European Socialists, Kautsky
and Bernstein, and refer to the Rus
sian Socialist parties, against which
Lenine Is waging his bloody and ex-
terminating war. You might also have
quoted denunciations of Bolshevism (as
being the antithesis of democracy and
of democratic Socialism), by such
world-known figures as J. r. Mac
Donald and Arthur Henderson, Of Eng
land; Albert Thomas, Marcel Sembat,
and Jules Guesde, of France; Caneps,
Of Italy, and Branting, Of Sweden
all but the first named having been
wartime members Of the cabinets of
their respective countries.
But what has this to do with the
American Socialist party? 1t is truo
that former leading members Of this
organization have denounced Boshe-
vism-for example, Allen Benson,
Presidential candidate in 1916; Charles
Edward Russell, John Spargo, Mrs.
Charlotte Perkins Gilman. A. NJ.
Simons, ". J. Ghent. Henry Slobodin,
J. G. Phelps Stokes, and score Of
other Socialists Of national prominence.
But each and every one Of these mas
left the Socialist party! There is not
one single prominent member Of that
organization who has attacked Boil
shevism. On the contrary, the whole
party decided unanimously in their
September congress to leave the inter
national of Kautsky, Bern stein, Hen
derson, Branting and the others, pre-
cisely because the Bolsheviki had left
that organization. Gwen this interna-
tional did not have the courage either
to exclude rhe Bolsheviki or to take
any action whatever against their Com
munist International A number OF
admitted Bolshevists were seated as
delegates.)
The seating or unseating Of the
Socialists at Albany, important as this
question is. must be regarded as utto~-
" subordinate to the main issue. Is
the so-called American Socialist party
q SOCIALIST or a Bolshevist organiza-
tlon? / contend that all the evidence
Will prove them to be Bolshevist. Since
Lonine came into power these Social
lists have given 80 per cent Of their
time and energy to the propaganda Of
Bolshevism and the remaining
per cent he's been given not to any
remuneration or criticism of Bo!she-
vlsIn, but to a sufficient rcassertion Of
discarded former principles to serve as
a veneer for their betrayal of democ-
racy and their advocacy Of "the die
tatorship Of the proletariat."
There are at least twenty shades Of
Bolshevist "Reds." That one OF them
still supports political action as one
Of the means to its end is no reason
to deny its Bolshevism. Lenine has
advised his italian Bolshevist- Socialist
followers (150 members of the Italian
parliament out of 500) not to attcmnt
their violent minority revolution this
winter, but to continue to act az no.
litlcal party until he gives the word
And after the Sovets these Italians ara
the heroes OF our Socialist" meetings
and press.
1t would be a deplorable, danger
Gus and unnecessary public delusion to
link these American Bolsheviki with
the European Socialist democrats and
antl-Bolshevists, whom they have no..
only denounced but with whom they re-
1use further to associate
1t would be an equally complete re-
versal of the truth to confuse them
with the loyal and anti Bolshevist
American Socialists who have long ago
lett their organization.
Let not the democracy which these
people have repudiated serve as =
screen for their Sovietism.
Let us remember that Eugene Y.
Debs and James Maurcr are the two
most popular leaders of the Socialist
party and not the moro agile and
polite Hillquits and Bergers.
WILLIAM ENGLISH WAL1,TNG
New York Ior 1nOn