Warning Words

Maoriland Worker, Volume I, Issue 8, 20 April 1911, Page 13

Warning Words

Recent American Elections

By Eugene V. Debs.

The large increase in the American Socialist vote in the late National and State elections is quite naturally hailed Avith elation and rejoicing by party members, but I feel prompted to remark, in the light of some personal observations during the campaign, that it is not entirely a matter for jubilation. I am not given to pessimism, or captious criticism, and yet f cannot.but feel that some of the votes placed to our credit this year -were obtained by methods not consistent -with the principles of a revolutionary party, and in the long run will do more harm than good. I yield to no one in my desire to see the party grow and the vote increase, but in my zeal I do not lose sight of the fact that healthy growth and a substantial vote depend upon efficient organisation, the self-education and selfdiscipline of the membership, and that where these are lacking, an inflated vote secured by compromising methods can only be hurtful to the movement. The danger that I 6ee ahead is that the Socialist party at this stage, and under existing conditions, is apt to attract elements which it cannot assimilate, and that it may be either weighted down, or torn asunder with internal strife, or that it may become permeated and corrupted with the spirit of bourgeois reform to an extent that will practically destroy its virility and efficeiency as a revolutionary organisation. To my mind, the working class character and the revolutionary integrity of the Socialist party are of the first importance. All the votes of the people would do us no good if our party ceased to be a revolutionary party, or only incidentally so, while yielding more and more to the pressure co modify the principles and programme of the party for the sake of swelling the vote and hastening the day of its expected triumph. It is precisely this policy and the alluring promise it holds out to newmembers with more zeal than knowledge ox working class economics that constitutes the danger Aye should guard against in preparing for the next campaign. The truth is that we have not a, few members who regard vote-getting as of supreme importance, no matter by what method the votes may be secured, and this leads them to hold out inducements and make representations which are not at all compatible with the stern and uncompromising principles of a revolutionary party. They seek to make the Socialist propaganda so attractive —eliminating whatever may give offence to bourgeois sensibilities —that it serves as a bait for votes rather than as a means of education, and votes thus secured do not properly belong to us, and do injustice to our party as Avell as to those who cast them. Socialism is a matter of growth, of evolution, which can be advanced by Avise methods, but never by obtaining for it a fictitious vote. We should seek only to register the actual vote of Socialism, no more and no less. In our propaganda we should state our principles clearly, speak the truth fearlessly, seeking neither to flatter nor to offend, but only to convince those who should be with us and Avin them to our cause through an intelligent understanding of its mission. Of far greater importance than increasing the vote of the Socialist party is the economic organisation of the •'ring class. To the extent, and only to the extent, that the workers are organised and disciplined in their respective industries can the Socialist movement advance and the Socalist party 'd what is registered by the ballot. The election of legislative and administrative officers, here and there, where the party is still in a crude state and the members economically unprepared and politically unfit to assume the responsibilities thrust upon them as the result of popular discontent, xc-ill in-

evitably bring trouble and set the party back, instead of advancing it, and while this is to be expected and is to an extent unavoidable, we should court no more of that kind of experience, than i 6 necessary to avoid a repetition of it. The Socialist party has already achieved some victories of this kind which proved to be defeats, crushing and humilitating, and from which the party has not even now, after many years, entirely recovered. We have just as much Socialism that is stable and dependable, because securely grounded in economics, in discipline, and all else that expresses class-conscious solidarity, and this must be augmented steadily through •economic and political organisation, but no amount of mere votes can accomplish this in even the slightest degree. Voting for Socialism is not Socialism any more than a menu is a meal. Socialism must be organised, drilled, equipped, and the place to begin is the industries where the workers are employed. Their economic power has got to be developed through efficient organisation, or their political powereven if it could be developed, would but re-act upon them, thwart their plans, blast their hopes, and all but destroy them. Such organisation to be effective must be expressed in terms of industrial unionism. Each industry must be organised in its entirety, embracing all the workers, and all working together in the interest of all, in the true spirit of solidarity, thus laying the foundation and developing the superstructure of the new system within the old, from which it is evolving, and systematically fitting the workers step by step to assume entire control of the productive forces when the hour strikes for the impending organic change. Without such economic organisation, and the economic power with which it is clothed, and without the industrial co-operative training, discipline and efficiency, which are its corollaries, the fruit of any political victories, the workers may achieve will turn to ashes on their lips. With the workers efficiently organised industrially, bound together by the common tie of their enlightened self-interest, they will just as naturally and inevitably express their economic solidarity in political terms, and cast a united vote for the party of their class as the forces of nature express obedience to the laws of gravitation.

One of Hearst's mining ventures is said to have resulted in heavy losses through the employing of non-Union Labour. Under the conditions which the American Homestake Mining Co. ask men to work it, is sard to be impossible to get practical miners for the wages paid which are declared to be the minimum for the known globe, while living conditions cannot possibly be Avorse. Besides this Hearst denies his employees the right to spend their money where they like, as every employee must purchase the necessaries of life from the company's store. Since the employ of non-Unionista the mine has fallen into a deplorable condition, and unless 'something is done speedily the company will practically lose the mine, or it will be placed in suoh a condition that it will necessitate the expenditure of a large amount of money before it can be worked again to advantage.