EQUALITY AND FRATERNITY

The international Socialistic conference to be held at Stockholm shortly might well awaken from its very name high hopes in the breast of a philosopher. The labor of nations in a world parliament! The union of toilers before which all sectional boundaries fail!

Unfortunately, all nations are not to be represented. German Socialists will be there. Austrian and Bulgarian and Turkish Socialists will be there. Also, most pampered of all delegations, Russian Socialists will be there, sent by the people's committee, whose opinions are somewhat dubious. There they will be greeted by their German and Austrian and Bulgarian and Turkish brothers-in-labor, although enemies-in-arms, and fraternize with them in the common love of that spirit of equality which transcends mere national politics. We might well send representatives from our own I. W. W. to add to the international gathering.

It is whispered that the German Emperor is not adverse to the council. Perhaps he bears a deeper love to the Russian socialist than the holder of the same political tenets nearer home. However, the Emperor's interest is not necessarily the indication of a turn towards democracy.

It is interesting to note that the meeting is to be held in Stockholm, in Sweden, whose sympathies, to put it mildly, are not so keen as those of Norway for the Entente.