The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-27
SOCIALISM AND ORGANIZED LABOR.

President Perkins. of the State Fedora
ton OF Labor, said while in Columbus
few days ago that socialism was doing more
to injure the cause of organized labor than
all of the anti-labor organizations in exist
cree. The fact that some unions have with
drawn their charters on account of the in
creasing influence of the Socialists goes to
sustain his statement. 1t is not easy to see
how it could be otherwise since the primary
objects and aims of organized labor and
socialism are entirely different. The former
aims at promoting and protecting the inter-
ests of labor by organization and co-opera-
ton. establishing and maintaining high
standard of wages and generally unfolding
the rights OF labor In its occasional disputes
with capital. This. with proper limitations
preventing interference with the rights of
others. is legitimate object.
Socialism aims at different objects and
operates on different lines. 1t embraces
many phases of opinion according to localf-
ties. but none of them is primarily favor
able to the protection of labor interests.
Socialism differs materially in the anthra-
cite coal fields of Pennsylvania. where there
Is large element of un-Americanized Eu-
ropeans, in New York and Chicago, where
the atmosphere is largely pervaded by
anarchism, and i'm the smaller cities and
towns of the West. Everywhere. though,
it's aims are entirely distinct from
those of organized labor. Perhaps its
least Objectionable form is that which
favors the taking over OF all public utili-
ipal governments. though there is nothing
in this proposition which should attract or
ganzed labor. From this form socialism
runs through different phases of redistribu-
ton of property, community of ownership,
opposition TO established government and
extreme of these views may not be numer-
Gus among the Socialist members of labor
unions, but they are all represented and
they are all equally opposed to the legiti-
mate objects of organized labor.
There was a time when Eugene v. Debs
was an honored labor leader devoted to the
promotion of labor interests by legitimate
| methods. Now he is the Socialist candidate
for President. In an article which has re-
Gently been published in nearly every So
cialist paper of the country he says:
The record must be kept to the minutest
detail, for when the day of final accounting
comes, as come it will as surely as the
green earth rolls sunward. the capitalist
class will settle by the books to the last
| cry of agony and the last groan of despair
wrung from the misery OF their crucifed
anu exiled victims. . The coming day
of judgment is slow but sure. And the
memory of the working class is long-they
| do not forget.
Arouse, we workingmen! Open your eyes
| and see the class struggle! Join and sup
| port the only party that stands squarely
upon the class struggle as the basis of its
revolutionary character. The Republican
Democratic and Populist parties are all
capitalist parties, all for wage slavery, all
| against the working class.
| The difference between Mr.. Debs's reason
| able attitude when, he first started out as a
| labor leader and his present violent utter
| ances shows the distance between legiti-
| mate labor unionism and socialism. The
latter i'm all it's phases and forms, is the
deadly enemy of organized labor.