The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-09-20
; War That Made The World Safe
For Imperialism
BY PASQUALE RUSSO

NUhlING the pFeSiuenClal Champaign
- of 1916, the democrats organ
lied a huge political machine, spend
ing millions of dollars in an effort to
re-elect the late Woodrow Wilson, ex
president of the United States.
In every political campaign it is
customary to use slogans, the purpose
of which is to mislead the people. In
the Wilson campaign, the slogan
brought forth was: "He kept us out
of War" Implying by this that the
safety of the country demanded the
reelection of President Wilson. The
phrase became popular and aroused
a wide spread interest and enthusi-
asm. 1t created the impression that
Wilson was lover of peace and under
no circumstances could he be induced
to consent to the participation of the
United States in the war then raging
in Europe. The result when the votes
were counted was to be expected. IT
was a great victory for the democratic
party and for the second time
Woodrow Wilson was honored with
the high office of the presidency.
ALI during the campaign, election
and Inauguration of Wilson, Europe
was in the thoes of the greatest war
in history. Europe had been brought
to the depths of agony and was bleed
ing from the iron rule of the militar-
lists.
From the very beginning of the
World War, in 1914 very insistent
propaganda was carried forward in
the United States, by Morgan and
other financiers in an effort to induce
the government to join the other
European assasins in the slaughter
of the working people.
After three long years of effort, the
ruling class was successful and de-
cided to satisfy their demand for a
war by entering the one then raging
in Europe AS usual they did not ask
the permission of the people. All the
wolves of Wall Street saw fit to do
was to instruct the newspapers,
churches and chambers of commerce,
in fact all bourgeois institutions to
sanctify and bless our participation
in the carnage.
The newspapers, as loyal servants
of big business, began printing false
hoods alleging that atrocities were
committed by German soldiers during
the invasion of Belgium, while remain
ing silent regarding the ten million
colored people in the United States
living under worse conditions, many
of whom were prosecuted and lynch
ed, not by Germans but by 100 per
cent loyal Americans.
Woodrow was inaugurated as pres
ident early in March and on April 9Th, J
1917, forgetting the promises made to
the people, informed congress that
state of war existed between the impe-
rial German government and the
United States of America. Thus the
former pacifist and internationalist
changed from keeping us out Of war;
to make the World Safe for Democ-
racy."
The next move of the president was
the issuance of an appeal for volunte-
ers but since the responses were
wholly inadequate it became neces-
sary to pass a compulsory draft act,
thus saving the situation.
When the people definitely realized
that the war was to be prosecuted
with force and vigor they gave way
to hysteria declaring for the defense
of the Belgians and death to the
Kaiser and German huns. Every
lackey of the capitalist class declared
themselves for the war; preachers,
bankers, profiteers and other para
sites, as far as speech was concerned
declared for war. They instructed
the people to make preparation for
the battlefield while they secretly
made arrangements to stay at home.
Their policy being, of course to en-
courage and preach war while it was
quite well understood the working