The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-23
REGULATES DEBS.
The Socialist Labor Party Issues
Circular Letter Regarding
His Schema

Chicago, June 23.-The branch of the
Socialist Labor party of this city has
sent out the following circular letter
to the press in opposition to the Debs
movement:
To the Editor: In view of the fact
that the cooperative plan of Mr.. Debs
and his followers, at present exciting so
great attention, is described as an at
tempt TO put socialism in practice, it is
hitting that there should be public eE-
preston of the attitude of the socialist
labor party in regard to this and all
similar schemes.
The socialist labor party is an inter
national organization, united FOR the
overthrow Of the capitalist system. In
spite of limitations to the ballot in
many countries, it registers now over
100000 votes and is growing with ire
mendOus rapidity.
1t is the right of this great body, and
no other, to define socialism
Socialism is not a theory Socialism
is not some plan that is to be set in
operation apart from or outside of the
existing organization of society Social
ism is that growth, that logical devel-
Opment, out of present conditions which
must result when, through their expert
eEce and suffering. the workers realize
the cause of their subsection as class
to that class which possesses the in
Struments of production; when they
learn to know and feel their distinct
class interests when they awaken to a
sense of their overwhelming power;
when they assert that power in fur
therance of their class interests achieve
their emancipation, and thereby end the
domination of class.
The attitude of the socialist labor par
ty toward these cooperative schemes is
thoroughly consistent with this view.
1t sees clearly their limitations, their
futility, in far as the realization OF
socialism is concerned, and emphatic
ally repudiateS them. As far back as
the manifesto of 184S Marx and Engels
unsparingly analysed these dreams OF
experimental realization OF social Ito
pias." which they dubbed 'duOdecimO
editions of the New Jerusalem"
The socialist labor party recognizes
that progress of necessity moves with
in the limits of existing conditions. It
neither ignores these conditions nor
seeks to escape them. 1t looks rather to
the utilization of that basis of cO-Opera-
tive production which capitalism itself
is already organizing, and which it IS
the mission of socialism to perfect So
cialfsm will come, not as an experiment,
but as fact of social development.
The socialist labor party refuses to
abandon to the capitalist class that per
fected equipment for production which
in it's hands is the means of the sub
lection of the wage working class. It
aims to supplement cooperative own
ership of the instruments of production
But preliminary to the accomplish
ment of that aim it sees clearly that the
proletariat must be raised to the posi-
ton of ruling class
The socialist lab party INDUCES IN
no vain hope of successfully competing
with capitalism in the economic field It
strikes boldly and direct for the seat
OF capitalist power-the government. It
teaches the working class that In the
political field by force of numbers alone
it IS the master: that this is the natural
training ground for the class-conscious
organization of its forces; that when,
conscious of its interests as a class, con
scious of It's growing and already over
whelming power, it votes the socialist
ballot it is attacking capitalism at its
most vu1nera bic point; that the growth
of the socialist vote is the measure Of
its progress, every increase a step to-
ward emancipation from wage slavery.
SECTION CHICAGO
Socialist Labor PARTY