The Labor enquirer., 1885-01-31


bers, the magazine contained very little
reference to Socialism. "Jhstice" proved
dead failure. If a few enthusiastic
spirits pushed the sale of the paper, it
only meant spurt; for the editing Of
the paper was so poor and inappropriate
that no one seemed to have any interest
in it. Many splendid articles appeared,
but the efforts of contributors were un-
able to counteract the dampening infu-
ence of unattractiye and apparently
purposeless editing. Everywhere people
wanted to know what Socialism was and
what Socialists wanted, but with a
magazine and weekly paper at the dis
posal of the party, the information was
not forthcoming and the public could
come to no other conclusion but that
Socialists didn't want anything or didn't
know what it was if they did. During
all this there was grumbling among those
in the party who were beginning to see
the cause of our non-success, and there
was discomfort among those who were
ana ssllsfe as] resl issse But
although many of us were very impatient
aud angry at those things, we kept the
expressions of our feelings inside our
own meetings, and the public, and even
many of our comrades, were unaware of
che dissension which existed in the very
heart of the organization, l gave only
the slightest hint of in an article which
appeared in THE LABOR ENQUIRER on
consistent Socialism. There | attacked
the State Socialistic programme of the
Federation. This really laid at the core
Of our dissension.
At the general conference Of the Dem
ocratic Federation in August, 1884, the
existence of two conflicting parties in
the Federation was quite obvious. I'm
fortunately, but as usual, the difference
was shown most plainly on matters of
detail, where the tendency of unim-
portant items brought out the contending
tendencies 1t was most plainly shown
in one instance which was not unimpOr-
tant. H. NJ. Hyndman had been chair
man of the Federation for three or four
years, nOminally he was only chairman
of the Executive Council, but in reality
he was not only chairman but boss" Of
the whole Federation. The thing became
so glaring an qnOmoly in Socialist body,
and 50 frequently elected from the bour-
geois press such expressions as, The
Democratic Federation, as Mr.. hyndman
persists in calling himself" that it was
clear some change must be made. The
Revolutionary section were of course in
favor of abOlishing the Craftsmanship
altogether, and simply eleCting a chair
man for each meeting but Mr.. Hynd-
man was strongly against such course,
for very obvious reasons, and wanted to
have William Morris as chairman for a
year as aChange. This little arrange
ment was strongly opposed at the con-
ference, especially by Morris, and was
completely knocked on the head by
Andreas Scheu, the Edinburgh delegate
Scheu was mainly the instrument of car
rying a motion for the abolition of the
Craftsmanship. This of course left Hynd-
man dissatisfied, but 1t was not mnch Of
a real immediate gain to the genuine
Socialist element. The paper "Justice,"
was in his hands he was editor of a Jour-
nal which was accepted as the organ of
the Federation, which was founded with
the money of the Federation, and which
was circulated by the efforts of members
of the Federation, not a penny being
spent in advertising it through the
ordinary channels. An irresponsible
editorShip is post which the most trust
worthy man conceivable ought not to be
entrusted with. When man above sus-
piclon would be dangerous, the harm to
be done by one beyond mere suspicion
cannot easily be exaggerated.
Hyndman was, however, a clumsy tao
tician, and brought about his own down
fall by preripitous and unsklllful action.
Those who were against his idea of des-
potic Socialism-of Socialism for the
people by Hyndman-he attacked per.
sonallY. Anyone.Who was not Hynd
mantle was called an "Anarchist," This
word frightened many timid members Of
the Federation and did Mr.. Hyndman
good service as an eplthet. Andreas
Scheu, who has for years worked as few
men work, for the cause, in Austria and
England, was one of the first to oppose
Mr.. Hyndman's political jIngOism and
State Socialism, and as matter of course
was the first against whom Mr. Hynd
man found it necessary to direct his
mean and SlanderOus attacks. | DO not
wish to go into details upon the personal
aspect of the matter. To many people
IN America, it will be quite enough to
mention that Scheu was attacked Any
defense of him would be quite superhu-
Gus. Others besides Mr.. Scheu were
slandered by the would-be boss; but it
will not be necessary to 90 into particu.
lars. 1t is enough to say that everyone
who seemed unlikely to submit to being
ruled, or who showed signs of resent
ment at the way IN which a great cause
was being prosttuted to safe the cravings
of a paltry personality, was at once an
object OF attack. b. Mr.. Hyndman was
not a clauer schemer the slanders hnnnn