other hand, a section was inserted in the party constitution condemning violence and sabotage, a form of the class struggle encouraged by the I. W. W., and rendering any member who advocates these practices or opposes political action liable to expulsion. In accordance with this decision Wm. Haywood was recalled from the National Executive Committee as opposing political action, but the expulsion provision has remained without enforcement. The questions as to industrialism, sabotage and political action still remain issues within the party, although for the last two years subjects connected with war and militarism have come into the first place. The international and militarist situation will be taken up in a later section. Suffice it to say that, while important differences in policy have developed in the American party, the majority have stood definitely against war and preparedness, authorizing radical anti-war manifestos and putting in the field for the 1916 campaign candidates conspicuous for their agitation in this direction. For purposes of economy the convention of 1916 has been dispensed with, nominations being made by referendum. Eugene V. Debs and Charles Edward Russell having declined, the latter no doubt because of his difference with the party on the preparedness issue, Allan L. Benson was nominated as the presidential candidate and George R. Kirkpatrick as the vice-presidential. Meanwhile the matter of union between the S. P. and the S. L. P. has been discussed, and a committee from both parties has been selected to arrange the details of coming together. In 1916, therefore, the prospects are bright for a united American Socialism, coming before the nation not only as the representative of the working class, but also as the only political party with a program of direct opposition to militarism. (The material in this chapter has been taken to a great extent from the sub-editor's "The Facts of Socialism," published by John Lane Company. For the early years of Socialism the editor is indebted to Hillquit's "History of Socialism in the United States.") 2. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SOCIALIST PARTY AND THE SOCIALIST LABOR PARTY. The three most important matters upon which there have been distinct differences of policy between the two parties are the party press, the relation to labor unions, and the apportionment of power between central and local organiza tions. The Socialist Labor Party has long supported a party organ, The People, of which De Leon was for many years the editor. Peculiar provisions of the constitution are the following: "Each section shall relentlessly insist upon each member being a regular reader of the party organ, except when none such is published in the language read by the member; ... no member, committee, or section of the Party shall publish a political paper without the sanction of the National Executive Committee; . . the National Executive Committee shall have control of the contents of all party organs, and shall act on grievances connected with the same." (Const. S. L. P., Art. 5, Sec. 14, 15; Art. 9, 10; Art. 2, Sec. 20, 21.) Until recently the Socialist Party has refused to designate an official party press. In 1914, however, the policy was changed and The American Socialist was established as the organ of the party, published at the national headquarters in Chicago. The party is also in constant friendly relations with many privately owned papers of a political nature, over which it claims no official control. The Socialist Party, although at the Convention of 1912 it endorsed the principle of industrial unionism, has never definitely advocated the industrial form to the exclusion of the craft union. The S. L. P., however, condemns craft unionism, denounces neutrality toward labor organizations on the part of a political party and urges the workers to organize industrially. (Resolution of April 29, 1916.) The policy of the S. L. P., moreover, unlike that of the S. P., has always been in favor of maintaining separate Socialist labor organizations under the control of the party. The Socialist Trade and Labor Alliance, founded in the nineties, was a rival of the American Federation of Labor, as is now its successor, the Worker's International Industrial Union. While in the Socialist Party the state organization has complete control, subject only to the national constitution, the Socialist Labor Party gives the chief power to the local, on the one hand, and to the National Executive Committee, on the other. The local has supreme disciplinary power over its members, and the National Executive can expel any state executive at pleasure. Basis of Unity. In the Basis of Unity proposed to the Socialist Party the S. L. P. states an Irreducible Minimum of principles which are to be incorporated in the principles of the United Party, and also a set of Maximum Demands "upon all or some of which the two parties, presumably, may not agree at this stage." We print the latter in full: Maximum Demands. 1. Declaration, that the Capitalist Political State,-composed of elected or of appointed representatives of political districts and territorial geographical divisions (county, state, etc.)-must under Socialism, be superceded by the government of Industrial Democracy, composed of workers elected by their fellow-workers in the various industries for the purpose of conducting and regulating the production and distribution of wealth. 2. The exposure of the American Federation of Labor and kindred organizations as the representatives of the reactionary anti-Socialist craft union movement and as an obstacle in the path for the improvement of conditions and the emancipation of Labor. 3. Declaration that the United Socialist Party aims to socialize, along with other means of production of commodities, all land used for the production of commodities whether such land be owned by a big or small farmer, or be tilled by wage labor or otherwise. 4. Endorsement of the Stuttgart resolution on the Immigration question. That resolution declares that it is proper for Socialists to support only such laws as prohibit importation of strike breakers and of contract labor. But, outside of these two elements, it is improper for Socialists to support any laws which in any way interfere with or abolish the right of a workingman of any country whatsoever, China or Japan not excepted, to go to any other country as individual workman in search of a living. That the political and economic labor movement of the country toward which the current of immigration flows should endeavor to offset the possible temporary harmful effect of immigration and turn that current of immigration into a source of strength instead of weakness, by drawing immigrants into the ranks of the labor movement of the new country, and for that purpose doing away with high initiation fees, "closing of union books," and other such methods used by the A. F. of L. craft unions for the purpose of monopolizing jobs for the few inside of such unions. 5. Declaration repudiating the fallacy of the so-called "buying out the capitalists" as the means for the emancipation of the working class. 6. Construction of a constitution of the United Socialist Party which would decentralize and make much more democratic the present constitution of the S. P. 7. Prohibition of the state autonomy being used to advocate prin ciples or policies which conflict with the general principles of the United Socialist Party. 8. The adoption of the general name of United Socialist Party of America, wherever that does not militate against the state laws. The S. L. P. then reserves for its sub-division the name "Socialist Labor Propagandists." 3. GROWTH OF THE SOCIALIST PARTIES IN THE UNITED STATES. 1. MEMBERSHIP. Growth in Membership of the Socialist Party. The number of dues paying members of the Socialist party in the United States for the respective years noted is as follows: Membership of the Socialist Party by States, for the years 1914 and 1915, including the apportionment of members of the National Committee: (From The American Socialist, Jan. 23, 1916.) 1 Admitted May 1915; 2 Admitted June 1915; 3 Admitted August 1915; 4 Admitted August 1915. Membership of the Socialist Labor Party. (From a statement of Arnold Petersen, National Secretary, dated February 17, 1916.) "I have not yet received all the reports from the various Branches and Language Federations of the Party, but so far reports show a membership in good standing of about 2,000. Subsequent reports should bring this up to at least 2,500 or possibly 3,000. In addition I estimate that there are from 800 to 1,000 members in arrears owing to unemployment, leaving the section in search of a job, etc., etc. "The party is organized in a number of States throughout the Union. It has full State organizations in about eighteen states and sections in a number of other states throughout the country. Approximately there are about 250 Branches and Sections of the Party in the various parts of the country including the Language Branches." 1 |