The New York herald., 1921-12-04
OF AN ERSTWHIIE E PARLOR SOCIALIST

maintain that the master minds among
the Socialists, knowing that the scheme
must always end in chaos, are merely
working to get the power of life and
death here as they have in Russia. And
If am still fighting the Socialists to-day
both the outspoken and the disguised
variety-whenever and wherever ] can
this Ia because l see that they nave al
ready succeeded ia undermining the con
fidence OF some of our people in the
Constitution of the United States.
The Constitution of the United States
In the old days / understood almost as
little of its workings AS of the Socialist
constitution. But nowadays / have not
even confined myself to the study of the
forces determined to destroy our Govern
ment. To-day I know our own Constitu
tion well enough to realize what true
liberty it represents; to correct many false
statements made concerning 1t, and to
defend it generally against attack.
r Asst winter ran across Graefsky,
who, though very prosperous these
days, still calls himself "a Socialist,
giving divers weak reasons for holding on
to and profiting by his accumulated
wealth. He hailed me blithely and in.
quired when / would go to an interesting
meeting with him. I answered that l
had done with Socialist meetings and So
cialism long ago. upon which he urged
that this was not Socialist but a free
speech meeting.
''Now. now, Graefsky," smiled, "I know
better than that nowadays. I've made a
study of many forms of your camouflage,
even of the free speech variety" paused
ITS very clever of you people to invoke
one part of our Constitution-the Freedom
of Speech clause-so you may be allowed
to try to destroy the rest"
what else does the wise lady know"
he inquired.
"Well, that the Socialists are planning
to fool the bourgeoisie in this country
into helping the revolutionary cause, just
as they did in the Russian and the French
revolutions" He raised his eyebrows.
"And I've read The Communist Manifesto
thoroughly at last" He laughed. And
I've studied the N. Y. State Report on
Revolutionary Radicalsm': and I've read
Boris Brasol's Socialism VS.. Civilization.
Also I'm diligent reader Of The Gail.
And I've even paid some visits to the
Rand School lectures
At this Graefsky's manner changed Ell.
trely well, and what do you propose
to do about Socialism since you've decided
that you really don't fancy it?'
Wake other people up! Point out for
instance that since Lenine has lately an
nounced a partial return to capitalism
Socialism is clearly false and rotten phil.
osophy." He shook his head, smiling "I'll
show other people how necessary 1t Is to
study I insisted.
He laughed again. And does the wise
lady really imagine she can persuade the
average American woman to study?" !
nodded. Don't you suppose we've made
a study of her ourselves? You were one of
our subjects Did you study in the old
days?"
| WINGED but managed to smile That's
why I am determined to spare other
women of my kind the happiness of having
helped a bad cause merely through little
mental lazness. The trouble with me was
that whatever studying l did was under
you Socialists. I'll warn against that
method"
at ALL said the Russian "They will
merely call you a victim of mob hysteria
or else fanatic And certainly the Amer
leans will never study. I'll stake my reru-
tation as prophet on it."
considered. But you were careful to
keep me confused Our people are wax
ing up"
Graefsky laughed Eve are also keep
ing them confused. Remember" he added
politely, "I have predicted It, They will
never study You yourself are by nature
an optimist."
"Oh, don't know I said as, turned
to leave him. Let me see The Women's
City Club Of New York, the Massachusetts
Public Interests League, the Constitutional
Leagues of Wellesley, Milton and Cam
bridge and eight other Women's Clubs are
studying"
= INCE then many forces have combined
y fortuitously to awaken the people
of this country to the perils Of Social
ism as such. vice-President Coolidge has
given solemn warning to the mothers OF
college students. Soviet Russia, collaps.
ing in famine due mainly to the social
ism in action itself continues to use
the much reviled capitalistic system, for
the moment at least. And certain former
Socialists have returned from Russia thor
oughly cured of Socialism. There are still.