Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1890-03-22

with capital and therefore the most
natural form of the organization OF
labor. Starting with limited demands,
such as more wages and less hours of
work, the unions are by their experiences
and under the influence of he concentra.
ton of industry inevitably pushed to a
| constant enlargement Of their aims and
must finally arrive at the full conception
OF their class interests and of the neces-
sity of fundamental change of the in
dustrial system. They are the natural
nucleus both of the organized force by
which this change is to be accomplished
and OF the industrial organization upon
which cooperative production will be
based. This view was SO fully in accord
with actual conditions and tendencies,
that the trade unions gradually drfted
towards 1t. Most of the organizations
and members who seeded from either
Hirsch or the Lassalleans naturally went
over to the Marxists; those that did not
secede maintained their strength only
by practically adopting this view, as
was the case with the great Lassallean
organizations of cigarmakers, bricklay-
ers, trainers and others we have men
| toned.
The effect which the organization of
trades unions had in strengthening the
socialist movement was most noticeable
In Berlin. Here neither of the Socialist
parties had been able to make any head
way among the worklngmen; they fol-
lowed the lead of the Progressists. As
late as 1868 the agitation, although con-
Quoted by Schweitzer himself, did not
attract an average attendance of more
than 10 or 20 persons to the public meet
tings. With the Inauguration of trade
unionism and the signal defeat OF Hirsch
| ON this field there came change. From
about 90 votes polled in Berlin in 1867
the Socialist vote rose to 8,45l in 1871
and 1881 in 1874.
The participation of the socialists in
the trades union movement had also a
most favorable effect iri clearing the
way for the unification Of the party in
Germany, the next great event in it's
history. 1t forced the Lassallians to
practically abandon their position in
two respects which had been great eau.
ses OF dlssension between them and the
Marxlsts. Though unwillingly, they had
for the sake of their own organization
to deviate from their ultra. political
| policy and accept the economic as i pro-
| per and useful form OF organization.
They were moreover forced to allow
their principle of Capitalization to be
broken through by strong unions with
| independent management. Another
| Objectionable feature of the Lassallians'
| policy, its narrow nationalism mot de-
veloped to an Objectionable degree until
after Lassalle's DEATH had been aban.
doned even before. This change had
been brought about mainly by the agi-
tation OF the International Workmen's
Association and the effect of Karl
Marks Capital, which had appeared
in 1867 and was at once recognized by
the Lassallians as well as the Marxists
proper an the fundamental work OF mo-
dern socialism.
In 1874 the only serious matter of diff
ference remaining between the two fac.
tIons was the so called "Lassallan Plan,
!. Q. the establishment of co operative
associations with State credit. As this
was now becoming recognized az of
little practical Importance, there were
only personal dissensions to prevent
an amalgamation. Bismarck stepped in
to help the cause over this difficulty.
Alarmed by the unexpected socialist vote
polled al the January elections of 1874,
he began systematic persecution
against the socialist agitators, organ
izers and especially newspaper writers
of both factions. To crown the work Of
oppression by complete suppression Of
the movement criminal prosecutions
were instituted against the Executive
Board of the Lassallian party located at
Berlin and against the Berlin represen-
tative of the Eisenach party on the
charge of participating in illegal socie-
ties. Both actions ended of course with
the conviction of the accused, the Court
declaring the two party organizations
illegal and ordering the dissolution Of
the General Workmen's Association.
The Social Democratic party (Eisenach
faction) having its seat in Elsenach, did
not come under Prussian jurisdiction.
Shortly before the sentence the Lassal-
lians had also removed their headquar-
ters from Berlin to Bremen. But in
Prussia the two parties were declared
illegal. This blow at the right of or
ganization had an effect entirely unex.
pected by the government; it brought
about the amalgamation. Conferences
were held between the respective lead.
ers and on May %, 1875, delegates of
both factions met at Gotba and united
under the name of Socialist Labor
Party of Germany. Under this name
and upon the platform there adopted
Changed only in one word) the German
Labor is marching to-day.