 One of his first notable contributions was his correspondence from Italy, criticising the reformist stance of the local socialist party.In 1911, "România Muncitoare" published Nicolau's anti-militarist manifesto "To the recruits".Recalling the army's contribution in suppressing the 1907 Peasants' revolt, the brochure called on the new recruits to choose a different path and refuse to support the government crackdown on the demands of the workers and the peasant.