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Show SOCIALISTS NOW FAVORWAR SIDE Appeal to Reason Converted by Wilson to Cause of Democracy. GIRARD, Kan., Dec. 11. The Appeal Ap-peal to Reason, pioneer Socialist organ Jn the United States, has espoused tho "war of defense" of the United States and the allies against Prussian militarism, mili-tarism, according to a statement here last night by Louis Kopelin, editor of the paper. "President Wilson's clear and definite statement of war alma before congress last Tuesday is mainly responsible for the Appeal to Reason's espousal of the war," the statement said. Beginning with the issue of December Decem-ber 22, the name of the paper will be j (jhanged to "The New Appeal," "to more distinctly conform to its broader national and international policy," the statement said. "Socialists are vigorously opposed to imperialism," continued Mr. Kopelin's statement, "and while they never suspected sus-pected the motive of America, thoy were not sure of some of the influential influ-ential elements in the allied governments. govern-ments. Until the president made, his address there was no specific statement state-ment as to the purpose oT the allies after Prussian militarism had been crushed. "We contended that such a statement state-ment was timely, even though the war was not yet decisively won. The fact that the Prussians were silent on the terms of peace was no argument that we should also sidestep that question. In dealing with enlightoned peoples, frankness is required. The old school of diplomacy, however, forbade discussion dis-cussion of this subject, and in spite of the entreaties for a statement on the part of the world's liberals and Socialists, no statement was forthcoming. forth-coming. "It was this refusal to stale ,the aims of the war that complicated the situation in Russia. It gave the German Ger-man agents a chance to slander the cause of the allies. But, fortunately, President Wilson docs not follow precedents, prec-edents, and he renlizdd that a restatement, restate-ment, of the aims of the war was desirable. de-sirable. The result has been that the cause of the allies has been greatly strengthened. There is even yet hope that this splendid statement is not too late to influence the Russian situation. Now that there is no longer suspicion against tho cause of the allies, and Germany is still silent as. to Belgium and other territory she has invaded and devastated, a Socialist can not do anything else but vigorously support the side which stands for right and justice. "The Appeal to Reason stands for democracy, and to be consistent it must uphold the present world battle for democracy. "I can not understand what excuse there remains for the German Socialists Social-ists to support tho kaiser, now that the 'defense of the fatherland' argument argu-ment has been so neatly disposed of by President Wilson. The only nations na-tions that are fighting a war of defense de-fense are the allies. A glance at the military map will easily prove that." The Appeal to Reason was founded In 1S95 and long has been one of the strongest mouthpieces of Socialist sentiment. sen-timent. It, according to Mr. Kopelin, has a greater circulation than all the other American Socialist papers published pub-lished in tho English language combined. com-bined. oo- |