The Oklahoma Leader (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 5, No. 24, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 5, 1918 Page: 3 of 4
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THE REAL LIEBKNECHT
Not the Man the Bankers Imagine, But the Mortal
Foe of Capitalism Itself.
SOCIALISTS WHO GOVERN GERMANY
LUELLA TWINING IN THE WORLD.
' Yes," said one banker on the
ferry boat to another Danker.
"They had to let Karl Liebknecht
out of prison and the people
strewed flowers before him for him
to walk upon. That indicates the
popular feeling in Germany, for
Liebknecht has always stood for a
republic."
The bankers evidently thought
the German people had done the
right thing in thus honoring Lieb-
knecht, for the tone of their voices
showed great admiration for Ger-
many's hero. "When a deed is done
for freedom, through the broad
earth's aching breast, runs a thrill
of joy prophetic, trembling on
from east to west."
Barbusse, the French writer ana
poet, felt the thrill of Liebknecht's
deeds for freedom. In his book,
Under Fire, he makes the hero,
Bertrand say, "Oh, I tell you, there
is one man who is lifted above the
war and who stands out by reason
of his truth and courage—Lieb-
knecht."
The joy prophetic trembles
around the earth into the hearts of
the people. But I wonder just how
long those bankers will rejoice.
The last time I saw Liebknecht
was at a Russian entertainment in
Berlin. I went with Alexandra
Kollantay. • The picture floats back
to me vividly across seven years.
We entered the door and immedi-
ately saw Liebknecht surrounded
by a charming group of Russians.
1 can see Kollantay's bright smile,
as she said in her rich, animated
voice, "Ah, there is Mr. Lieb-
knecht." She walked over and
greeted him warmly.
If he was considered a syndical-
ist at the congress, 1 did not hear
of it, but the revisionists tried to
keep him in the background. Rosa
Luxembourg was called one and
was very unpopular because of her
views in some quarters. Liebknecht
and Rosa Luxembourg supported
a declaration of a general strike in
case of threatened war. This was
opposed by a majority of the Ger-
man Socialists (now the majority
Socialists) and, as the Germans ran
the congress, the question did not
come to vote.
Very often has my mind traveled
back to the episode of the general
strike. It was a barometer of what
was to come. The German major-
ity Socialists, the English group,
led by H. M. Hyndman, and some
others opposed going on a general
strike in case of war.
But Karl Liebknecht was an in
ternationalist then and his spirit
has stood the test of imprisonment
and threatened death, it was only
the fear of a revolution that saved
Karl Liebknecht from assassination
at the hand of imperial Germany.
Karl Liebknecht was one of the
leaders of the revolutionary wing
of the party as far back as 1910
and probably before that time.
I can see it all now. There are
often sign posts pointing the way
to us, if we have eyes to see, which
we generally do not have. It is dif-
ficult to read history that is trans
piring before our eyes.
But to return to the main theme
to our bankers who are so com
placentover Liebknecht's receptjon
in Germany. With them it is any
thing to hit the "Hun." Lieb
knecht is against the kaiser und
the bankers know it. But the kaiser
and his six sons have had their day.
Liebknecht is against something
far more formidable than the
kaiser and his six sons—capital
ism.
Liebknecht is an International
ist. His heart is with, not only the
German working people, but the
working people of all nations. He
would unite the American, French
German, Italian, Russian and all
other working people into
great soul.
Liebknecht demands, not a capi-
talist republic for Germany, but a
Socialist republic. Liebknecht de-
mands, not only political democ
racy, but far more—industrial de-
mocracy.
BERGERWILLTAKE HIS SEAT
WITH CONSENT OF EVERYBODY
lieresy Hunting by Time New Congress
Opens Will Be Small Stuff in View
of Transpiring Events.
%
r
By Courtesy of the "Chicago Tribune".
T1IK l.KADKIi'S WASHINGTON BI KKAI
WASHINGTON—Victor Berger will
take his seat in congress with the full
consent of all responsible party leaders
on both sides of the chamber, despite
the agitation in the extreme anti-So-
cialist press for a challenge of his
"loyalty."
That is the view of the situation ex-
pressed during the past week by mem-
bers from Wisconsin and the other
middle western states who are in a
position to know. There will be no
howling mob of patriots, clamoring
from the house, when he comes in with
the rest of the 4 35 men elected to the
66th congress to take the oath of office,
for the Socialist member's exclusion
If W. P. Bloodgood or any of his Ku-
Klux associates start a demonstration
in the gallery they will be taken in
hand by the door-keepers and thrown
down the stairs.
EXPECT NO OUTBREAK.
But the speaker and the majority
and minority leaders are not antici-
pating any such outbreak by the queer
junker crowd from Milwaukee. Pres-
ident Wilson settled Bloodgood's case
some six months ago by a special let-
ter and by the summary dismissal
of Bloodgood's confederate from the
position that gentleman held in the
department of justice. That letter
killed not merely the drumhead court-
martial bill which Bloodgood and
Judge Moose of Minnesota had pro-
posed but is marked them as disturb-
ers of public order in the nation.
It is true that certain Republicans
have said, guardedly and for home
consumption, that the Socialist mem-
ber from Milwaukee would be refused
his seat in the new congress. But
when asked to say whether they would
take part in the movement to exclude
Berger, they have kept quiet. No-
body cares to go on record. And as
the days pass, and the split in the Re-
publican ran^s grow wider, and the
war atmosphere is blown away by the
winds of industrial unrest throughout
the country, the small-town politicians
who had supposed that Socialist-bait-
ing would be tine sport in Washington
next spring have changed their minds
—or what passes with them for minds.
TIMES AUK CHANGING.
■ Times are changing, and political j
fashions, too. Congressman Miller,
Seattle, makes a speech to the Seattle
chamber of commerce, saying -there
I is no room in the United States for
a man who follows the red ling, and
no room on the earth for a red Hag
government. Next day he is roasted
to a turn by The Seattle Union Rec-
I ord, the daily owned and m-ilitantly
edited by the central labor body of
Seattle, and that paper exults over the
establishment of a few more red flag
governments in Europe. A few more
days, and the Seattle labor movement
decided to call a general strike to
compel the governor of California to
pardon Tom Mooney. Congressman
Miller is getting trouble enough at
home.
Indeed, the ending of the war has
pulled the props from beneath most
of our Republican and Democratic
| junkers, in and out of congress, ^even
or eight million men are coming back |
1. George Ledebour, one of the
leaders in the German revolution,
born March 7, 1850, in Hanover.
Journalist, and since 1900 member
of the reichstag; 1895-1896, editor
of The Vorwaerts; 1898-1900, man-
aging editor, Sachische Arbeiter Zei-
tung.
2. Friedrich Ebert, president
and minister of the interior and mili-
tary affairs, born Feb. 4, 1871, in
Heidelberg. Since Oct. 1, 1913,
chairman of the party in Berlin.
He is a harnessmaker by trade;
1X9 2, editor Bremer Buergerzeitung;
1900-1915, party secretary in Bre-
men; 1905-1913, secretary of the
party. Since 1914 delegate to the
reichstag.
3. Karl Leglen, born Dec. 1,
1861, in Marienburg. Wood turner
by trade. Since Jan. 1, 1891, presi-
dent, commission of trade organiza-
tions, member of the reichstag,
fled, and presently there will be a so-
cial explosion.
iiavi: no program.
Republicans and Democrats admit
they have no program for meeting
this situation. Their reconstruction
plans have never been seriously de-
veloped, much less taken in hand by
the men who have authority to carry
them out. Even before the present
congress shall have expired, March 3.
the first million of war workers will
have returned home, and perhaps the
first million of soldiers will have been
let go from the camps in this country.
By the time the new congress comes
into action, and the proposed heresy
hunting in honor of Victor Berger can
possibly be started, the picayune
member from Fourflush will be chas-
ing himself around in circles, trying
to find a way to satisfy the demands
of the men who have made personal
sacrifice f« r the war.
The temper of the new times was
indicated when the senate committee
on privileges and elections voted to
drop the charges against Senator La
Follette, which had been filed by Sen-
ator Kellogg, Minnesota, on behalf of
the Minnesota public safety commis-
sion. That commission is the same
whose chairman, McGee. joined with
Milwaukee's Bloodgood exhibit in the
proposal that Socialists bo handled by
martial law\
from army and navy service and from i
I war work, to take jobs at a higher
! wage level and meeting a higher I
' standard of living than before they j
left home. It is up to congress, and
| to the politicians who keep the voters
' in line behind the two old party am-
buscades, to provide those seven or
L ight million jobs. Every job must j
be one that will make a man feel that
his services to h:s country have been
I appreciated. Otherwise he will nurse
a grievance, and he will get into touch
with all the others who are dissatis-
\l\i: YOTi: TO DROP IT.
Nine senators—most of them reac-
tionaries—voted to drop the La Fol-
lette case. Two Democratic junkers
—Pomerene of Ohio and Walsh of
Montana—voted to try La Follette for
heresy or lese majeste, or something
of the sort. Three senators—all re-
actionary. stayed away; of these. Fall
of New Moxico might have been in
doubt, but King of Utah and Thomp-
son ol* Kansas were against pressing
King and Walsh belong to the
"copper caucus" in the senate. So
does Ashurst, who voted for dismissal.
Walsh has just been re-elected in
Montana, but Ashurst in Arizona and
King in Utah are nearer to a reckon-
ing with an indignant labor constitu-
ency
As for Dillincrham of Vermont, Kel-
logg of Minnesota, Sherman of Illi-
nois, Knox of Pennsylvania and Ken-
von of Iowa, on the Republican side
of the table, and Yardaman of Missis-
sippi, Reed of Missouri and Wolcott of
Delaware on Democratic side, they
voted for the dismissal for half a
dozen reasons, chiefly concerned with
the fact that it is no longer politi-
president International Gewerk-
schaftsverband; 1888-1892, presi
dent central sick benefit organiza-
tion of wood turners. Autnor or a
number of pamphlets on union or-
ganization and coalition right of
workingmen.
4. Otto Lansberg, minister of prop-
aganda, art and literature, born Dec.
4. 1869, in Rybnik; attorney, mem-
ber of reichstag. 1904-1910; com-
mon council member, Magdeburg.
5. Philipp Schiedemann, minister
of finance and colonies, born July
26, 1865; printer; since Oct. 1, 1911,
secretary of the party. Member of
reichstag; 1895, editor at Giessen'
1900, at Nuernberg, later at Offen-
bach and Kassel.
6. Wilhelm Dittman, minister
of demobilization, transportation,
courts and hygiene, born Nov. 13,
1874, in Eutin, near Luebeck. Car-
penter. Since July 1, 1909, editor,
Bergische Arbeiterstlmme, mera-
AUTOCRATIC RULE
IN GERMANY ENDS
WITH REVOLUTION
Official Restrictions on People Void.
Red Flag on All Govern-
ment Buildings.
BERLIN—Strange are the experi-
ences of a traveler who enters Ger-
many after an absence of several
years.
Formerly there were many and va-
ried governmental orders and restric-
tions to be obeyed. Nowadays when
you go to a police station, the desk
sergeant will say sadly; "You are not
required to register any longer." They
do not even look at your passport.
Another feature of the "new Iree-
dora" in Germany which may surprise
tin' traveler is that the private soldier
no longer salutes his superior officers.
The soldier calls his officer "Com-
rade."
Berlin outwardly is as orderly as
ever, but order is no longer main-
tained by policemen, but by soldiers
with arm bands as,the badge of office.
The prevailing tone in Berlin is still
military, but it is a militarism of pri-
vates and noncommissioned officers.
Their symbol is the red flag, which
waves above every government build-
ing and from every automobile. As
far as any participation in directing
the affairs of the government, the
bourgeois citizens simply do not exist.
•onspicuous
her of reichstag; 1899-1903, editor,
Nordische Volksstimme; 1902-1904,
editor, Bergische Arbeiterstlmme at
Solingen; 1904-1909, secretary elec-
tion district, Frankfurt; also mem-
ber common council. Released from
prison after having served a long
term in connection with the mutiny
of sailors at Kiel in 1912.
7. Dr. Karl Liebknecht, leader
of the independent international So-
cialists, born Aug. 13, 1871, at Leip-
zig. Attorney, member of reichstag.
Provincial delegate and member t/i
common council. Recently released
from prison, to which he nan
sentenced to 40 months for opposi-
tion to the war. Author of many
Socialist books and pamphlets.
Author of Militarism, and contribu-
tor to Neue Zeit.
8. Huge Haase, minister of tor-
eign affairs, born June 29, 1863, in
Allenstein. Attorney, president of
the party, member of reichstag.
'ally safe to crucify
I liberal.
Vardaman, of course, is a liberal
! himself on most issues, and during
I the war was sacrificed by his party
| for that reason.
Kenyon had a severe case of war
fever, but is again beginning to see
economic issues. Kellogg is fright-
ened by the vulgar intrusion of some
I 41) nonpartisan and labor members
into the legislature in bis state, and
by the defeat of the prize anti-non-
! partisan congressman, Miller of Du-
I luth, by a locomotive engineer. Knox
is afraid of Bolshevism among the
I gteel workers and coal minors of
Civilians Hurt, Bystanders
Mauled as Soldiers Attempt
to Break Into Hall.
NEW YORK -Soldiers and marines
again created a riot here Tuesday
I night, when they attempted to break
into a meeting of Socialists in an lOast
r 8th St. hall. Two soldiers and six
I civilians were injured. The uniformed
men were repulsed by the police sev-
| oral times in rushes ag.'iinst the main
entrance of the hall. Later the pro-
j vost police arrived and dispersed the
I attackers.
Windows of the hall were broken
and persons arriving at or leaving the
meeting displaying red flags or rib-
bons wore forced to remove them, and
in some cases to kiss the American
Mag.
Several men who had nothing to
do with the meeting, but were merely
passing the hall, were also mauled.
The most severely injured was Walter
Wright, broker, who stopped to ask
x sailor the cause of the trouble.
I Thereupon, Wright said, the -ailor de-
! nounced him .'is a Bolshevik and at-
tacked him. Wright fought hard, but
finally succumbed to the blows of a
| dozen men. He was cut and bruised.
A red flag carried by a woman was
seized and burned by the soldiers. A
! marine, recently returned from over-
seas, was seen in the midst of Tues-
I day night's excitement. He was also
i prominent in the riot Monday night at
! Madison Square garden. The police
I have been informed that he wi 1 lead
ck on Socialist meetings Wednes-
night.
Tili- .rv ooliee Wednesday patrolled
< n the whole, the La Follett«' de-
cision by this senate committee is a
triumph for the German social revo-
lution. Junkers are becoming cau-
tion ±
They will be still more cautious
by the time Victor Berger comes back
to his *•< it in the house.
the r
Th
udinance prohibit
>d flags either in p
against
Thomas
>od that
nforoed.
i passed
display
>r meet-
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Ameringer, S. The Oklahoma Leader (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 5, No. 24, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 5, 1918, newspaper, December 5, 1918; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc148634/m1/3/: accessed April 23, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.