The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-10-24
How the "Socialists" Declared Debs
A War-PatrlOt
by BURCK

body that does not buy liberty bond is an
enemy of the nation. Vladeck, Lee, and the
rest of the socialist aldermen then in office
supported the liberty bond campaign of the
City of New York and even glorified the Amer
lean intervention in Archangel, Soviet Russia,
by voting to build victory arch in New York
with the inscription "Archangep' on it.
But this was not enough for the war pa
triots. The st. Louis resolution, was thorn
in their eyes and they wanted it to be wiped
off so they should be able to combat any work
err who was not war patriot. A moement
started by them to call special convention
to withdraw the st. Louis resolution. Those
opposing the war also opposed the contem-
plated convention arguing that it would be i'm
possible for the anti-war delegates to freely
express their opinion accounts of the Es-
pionage Act.
The war-patriots insisted that the conven-
zion be held. Debs was interviewed by a re-
porter of the New Appeal formerly Appeal
to Reason, pre-war socialist paper) and he
expressed his opinion that a convention was
necessary, in view of changed conditions. What
he really wanted was a more revolutionary
resolution instead of the pacifist st. Louis
resolution. The reporter viciously misrepre-
scented his statement and gave wide publication
to the story that Debs also Joined the war
patriots. The socialist" patriots in the party
made good use of it. | remember at party
meeting in Newark, N. j. in 1918, where some
members wanted the S. P. candidates to state
their position on the St. Louis resolution,
Goebel,aNew Jersey Socialist leader, de-
nounceS them and said even Debs is now in
favor of the war.
printed on the fourth page of the New York
Call, June a, 1918
Shows up Lying Capitalist Sheets
SIT has been rule of mine these many
years to Ignore false charges and misleading
statements concerning me in capitalist publica-
tons But now and then an exception arises
which requires attention and such an exception
appears in the report now being circulated with
editorial comment, by the capitalist press that
l have come to realize the error of my posi-
ton in regard to the war, and | have changed
front and now pro-war advocate and
appealing for the support of the administra-
ton in the prosecution of the war to the bitter
end. The report is an unqualified falsehood.
1t is out of whole cloth, and for no other pur-
pose than to create division, and if possible,
disruption in the socialist party
"a leading capitalist newspaper editorial
ICES upon the false and vicious report as fol-
lows:
"'Debs has been whipped into line by a
threatening public sentiment, and at this late
hour is humbly clambering aboard the band
wagon
"This lying profiteering organ need lay no
such fattering JUNCTION to its fostering heart.
/ have never asked any favor of the gang it
represents, and am not doing so now. | have
never yielded to threats or to intimidation
in any form, and | am not cowardy enough
to seek refuge as so many do, in the popular
side of public question.
For War of Workers Against Exploters
"Years ago | declared that there was only
one war in which would enlist, and that was
the war of the workers of the world against
the exploiters of the world | declared, more
over, that the working class had no interest in
the wars declared and waged by the ruling
classes Of the various countries upon one an
other for conquest and spoils. That is my
position today I have not changed in the
slightest, and any report to the contrary is
absolutely untrue, and is hereby branded ac-
cordngly.
"The reason favor convention is that
want the attitude Of the party stated as nearly
as may be by the rank and file and not by the