The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1912-09-06


resentatiyes of the ruling class. They
were there to frame a platform, there
to nominate a ticket. But the working
class who furnish all the votes and who
elect all the candidates were not there
not considered fit to be there because
from the republican point of view it re-
quires brains to write the platform and
nominate a ticket and the working class
has none. All they are fit for is to fur
nish the votes on election day-that Is
to ratify the action of the political
agents of their economic exploiter.
The Democratic Convention.
The second convention WAS held at
Baltimore. It consisted essentially of
the same class of representatives, the
only difference was that they repre-
sented different groups of capitalists,
different elements of the ruling class and
there were no working men in the Balti-
more convention. Why should there be
in the capitalist conventions? Why
should you working men who are not
fit to write their platforms or nominate
their tickets, why should you stultify
yourselves by giving them your votes on
election day?
The Progressive Convention
The third convention was held in the
city of Chicago in August by the So
called progressives. We find upon ex-
animation that this convention consisted
+ entirely of the same class of representa-
tives and that there was the same alb
sence of the workers. These three con-
ventions were in all essential respects
capitalist class conventions and their only
purpose was to frame platforms and
nominate tickets in the interest of the
ruling class. This is so self-evident that
the fact reveals itself.
The Socialist Convention.
There was a fourth national conven-
tion held this year in the city of In
dianapols in the month of May And
this convention was as distinctly a
working class convention as the other
three were capitalist conventions. The
delegates at indianapolis did not lodge
in the high priced hotels, they didn't go
there in Pullman palace cars or private
cars as the cases of the capitalists. They
were a very modest appearing body of
men and women, the kind you meet and
greet on the streets of Everett every
day of your life. They were a serious
looking body of people. They were not
there to be applauded by the leisure
classes. They were there for very
serious and important work. Their first
and last Thought was to devise ways and
means of preparing the workers for this
great campaign and all other campaigns
that are to be fought out until at last
capitalism is overthrown wage slavery
abolished and the working class stands
forth the ruling soyereigns of this ma
tion and of every other nation on the
ace of the globe There was not a dele
gate in that convention, man or woman,
who could not drive any republican,
democratic or progressive politician from
the platform in thirty minutes in the
discussion of the only vital issue in
volyed in this campaign. These dele
gates worked hard day and night, they
did their work in a way to command
the approval of the entire membership;
but before their platform is accepted
and becomes the authorized expression of
the principles and policies and program
of the party it must be submitted to
and ratified by the rank and file who
are the socialist party. And here let me
say that the socialist party is the only
democratic party, the only progressive
party on earth. 1t is financed by dues
paying membership. Every member is,
or ought to be, an active worker in the
ranks. Every member has equal rights
with every other member and if he
doesn't assert himself in the councils OF
the party, if he doesn't do his duty, it
Jis not because he lacks the opportunity