502 THE CLASS STRUGGLE EDITORIALS 503 acter of these groups than were the Russian Socialists when Root and Russel brought their message to the Russian proletariat.
But this conception of the work of the committee became even more broadly defined when it reached the European shores. According to a cable from Paris, August 5, by uis Kopelin, that staunch patriot who sadly but dutifully relinquished the glorious opportunities of the battle field for the so much more essential war work in the editor chair of the New Appeal in uniformJohn Spargo issued a statement that. We are trying to arrange the organization of a pro war Socialist League of the Allied Countries. We wish that when the International is mentioned it will not convey the meaning of pacifism, but will signify was to a victorious conclusion for democracy. It will be a select company that will rally around this war international: men and women most of them who call themselves socialist so long as the present favorable situation lasts, to return penitently to capitalist flesh pots when there is no longer a chance to do business in the socialist garb. Then they will need permanent jobs.
Our government, which is heartily supporting each and every one of these missions, is making a sad mistake in repeating the error it committed when it sent the Root Commission to the provisional government of Russia. Evidently Washington is under the impression that the European labor movement and its leaders know as little of American conditions as our labor leaders know of the labor movement in Europe. We are convinced that there are not five people among those prominent in the of who really know the Europeon labor movement. But in the old world every intelligent member of the labor movement is well informed on the position of the of and its influential men on all important questions. Every man and woman of any importance in the European socialist movement is well informed of the relations between John Spargo, Russel, Simons and the Socialist Party. In England, France and Italy they know the relative strength of the Socialist Party and the Social Democratic League.
What then are these missions to accomplish? Do these American delegates really believe that they are intellectually and mentally so inordinatly superior that they will be able with their eloquence, to overthrow the convictions and views of whole national move ments? Is it not more reasonable to believe that Simons, Spargo and Russel, who are after all only vest pocket editions of the English, French and Italian Labor war prophets who have tried in vain to turn the sentiment of the European labor movement into different channels will be listened to in a spirit of ordinary politeness, to be then definitely pushed aside.
What, for instance, are our European Socialists to think when they see the following report of the preparations made by the President of the of before he left this country, as reported in the Sun. Samuel Gompers is going to England for the British Trades Union congress in September to aid in holding labor to faith in the cause of the Allies. His efforts will be directed against pacifism and Socialism. Mr. Gompers recently presided at a conference of labor leaders, jurists, business men, bankers, representatives of the American Alliance for Labor and Democracy and the National Civic Federation.
No report of the discussion was made public, but it is understood that the best means of counteracting Bolshevism in the United States and the allied countries was discussed. The Conference was held at the headquarters of the National Civic Federation for the purpose of obtaining a representative statement of American opinion on the problems that will come before the London labor meeting, which will be held September 17, 18 and 19, with delegates present from all allied countries. The mission from America, headed by Mr. Gompers, will later visit France and Italy. Among those present were Lawrence Abbott of the Outlook; Major August Belmont, banker and subway magnate; Otto Kahn, multi millionaire banker; Henry Morgenthau, millionaire and former ambassador to Turkey; Alfred Smith, regional director of railroads; Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst, the militant suffragette from England; Rodman Wanamaker, the son of John Wanamaker, owner of department stores in New York and Philadelphia, and of several daily papers in Philadelphia; Grosvenor Clarkson of the Council of National Defense; Henry Moskowitz of the Submarine Boat Corporation; Mrs. Coffin Van Rensselaer and Miss Elizabeth Marbury. At the meeting resolution were adopted advocating aid for Rus