The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-04-13
TILE SUCCESSFUL METHODS OF
SOCIALISM.
BY AlSernon Lee.
New York independent, March

Now York Independent, March .,
19t1
AIr. Lee is one Of the leaders OF
the Socialist party in the United
States. lie has been the candidate
of his party for mayor of New York
City. has been editor OF The Worker
and The Call and is now president of
the Rand School of Social Science.
|-Editor.1
The Socialists entered the field of
national politics in the United States
in the year 1883. They pollcd 2,O6S
Votes-too few even to- excite ridi-
culc. Since then, they have passed
through five Presidential campaigns.
and in every one they have increased
their poll. reaching a total of 424,-
600 in 1908. In the State and Con-
gressional elections just held they
have made another gain of at least
so per cent. This is a record of
steady progress entirely unique in
the history of the third parties" on
American soil. But it is exactly in
accord with the history of the So
cialist party in every other civilized
country
Socialism has been ignored. 1t has
been laughed at. 1t has been de-
nounccd. But it has proved its vi
tality.
There is one aspect of this move
ment which has so far received no
attention outside it's own ranks
Much has been written during the
last six years about the theories of
Socialism, and their application to
specific problems, But the general
public knows hardly anything about
the internal organization of the
party and the methods by which it
carries on it's work.
The form of organization and
methods of action adopted by the So
cialistS arc in close harmony with
the peculiar principles and purposes
of their movement, and at almost cv-
cry point they are in sharp con-
trast with those of tho other par
ties.
When We speak of the Republican
or the Democratic party, We have in
mind compare lively small body OF
leaders and a large number Of pass
i've followers. The party organiza-
tion consists of professional or semi
professional politicians. the majority
Of them Office holders. office seek
ers. contractors. or saloon keepers.
with a few great financiers, indus
trial maCnatcs. and corporation law
ycrS in the upper ranks, all held to-
gethcr by mutual dependence for
he prom otion of personal or bIIsi-
ness interests. 1t is this organized
body of leaders that writes the plat
forms. chooses the candidates, and
directs the party policy. both before
and after election. The rank and
file are not asked to take part in the
work of party management. They
have no thought of doing so. 1t is
not their business-for they agree
with the leaders in regarding poll
Itics as business The average Re-
publican or Democrat resents the
suggestion that he should be more
active in the direction of his party S
affairs. He declares, with some
pride. that he is not a politician His
activity is usually limited to voting
once a year. He gives a few min
| utes on one other day in the year to
go to the primary and vote for one
or the other of two factional tickets
prepared for him by the leaders. he
considers himself an exceptionally
public-spirited citizen. He takes it
| for granted that political parties,
like other business institutions, must
be Internationally organized and
iruled from above. The only control
which he conceives it possible for the
frank and file to exercise over the
"machine'. consists in staying al
home on election day. or scratch
ing" the ticket. or. if the conduct oi
the machine is altogether too out
lraSeous. rebuiing it once in while
by voting the ticket offered by the
machine of the other large party. L
is purely negative control, ant
lspasmodically exercised.
The financial methods of thes'
parties are consistent with theil
form of organization. The rank ant
file are never expected to furnish tn
campaign funds. If, under eXcep
! tional circumstances. when the part
machine is deliberately riding for
. fail' they are asked to do SO. the
: open their eyes in astonishment an
| put their hands in their pockets. NO
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