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for a White terror against the workers. If the While Guard officers of the "Orgesch" will once more shoot down and lynch the best leaders of German Labour as they did in January, the blame for it will be Ledebour's as well, since he, by his speech, has prepared a justification for such action on the part of the Orgesch. Up till now many regarded Ledebour merely as an old fool. But from what we have slated above it is clear that he is a bloodthirsty fool at that. The class struggle in Germany is so bitter that these so-called eccentricities of an old "democrat" of the 1848 brand become in the eyes of everybody open counter-revolutionary appeals.
The other leaders of the Right Independents are less noteworthy. Some of them are only fit to be musical comedy heroes.
Take for instance Louisa Zeitz—"Schlummertante" as she was aptly dubbed by one of the Left comrades. She has been for some reason or other appointed the spokesman of the Central Committee of the party, although in reality she is only fit to frighten birds from an orchard. She is utterly ignorant and exceedingly spiteful, and she clings to her bit of influence in the parity like a drowning man at a straw. All criticism from the revolutionary workers directed against the Central Committee which Aunt Louisa Zeitz adorns with her presence regarded by this old bureaucrat as a personal affront. The Central Committee is as much her personal property as her apron, her wardrobe, or her old overcoat.
Take Richard Lipinsky, the "venerable" bureaucrat of Leipzig—a typical office-rat. He knows all the rules and regulations of the party by heart. But he sees nothing beyond this. He does not understand the conflict of principles. He only knows that he has been secretary from times immemorial, that he gets a Gehalt (salary) of so many marks a month, that he owes obedience to Hilferding and Crispien, that wicked people want to violate the beautiful "order" and routine established by long efforts in the ranks of the German Social Democracy. Why he is not on the side of Scheidemann—heaven alone knows! He in no way differs from a "respectable" Scheidemannist. He will now, of course, be one of those who
