Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1912-10-03


Z Comemnt by Hartman: II do not
think that we, as political party
have any right to attempt to call a
general strike. That is a matter with
I'm the Jurisdiction of the economic or
CARNATIONS of the country. OF course,
| l am in favor of the party doing all
it can to prevent war between Mexico
land this country and would gladly
vote for any motion that would tend
to prevent the same"
Comment by Hillquit: while / am
fully in accord with the anti4War senti-
ment expressed in the resolution,
am opposed to the resolution as pre-
scented because it is devoid of sub
stance, faulty in reasoning and false
in the recital of facts.
81 am not ready to advocate q gen.
eral strike in this country as a meas
ure to prevent a possible war, cam
not subscribe to the entirely unWar-
ranted assertion that the Socialist
party has steadily refused to do its
duty in regard to the threatened war
with Mexico, nor do believe that the
Mexican insurrectionists, many of
whom are reactionaries of the deepest
dye, can. be considered by the Social
lists of the United States as fellow
revolutionsists'.
Comment by Spargoa cat the pres
ent time there seems to be rather less
likelihood of such a war than at. any
any time for many monthsp asst.
Nevertheless, anything which the
Socialists of this country can do to
prevent such a war ought to-be done.
Il vote against the adoption OF Hay
woods motion, not because ] do not
think we should do whatever lies in
our power to prevent war with Mexi-
CO, but because the only definite pro
position which Comrade Haywood
makes, the 'enacing clause Of his
motion, is so pathetically and ludicrous
i ly impotent, inadequate and childlike
"The only specific resolve reads as
follows:
" we hereby call upon the mem
bership of the Socialist Party and the
working class generally to take imme-
d late steps to prevent war with
Mexico.1 +.
"But how?,, What Immediate steps
are to~be takena Are we to hold pro
test meetings, circulate petitions, or
what? The resolution does not offer
any plan for a nationwide, concerted
movement to prevent the war.
perhaps Cemrade Haywood will
reply to this criticism by saying that
his resolution proposes two very defin-
lite things, namely: "a a. general
strike in the event of a declaration OF
war, and l2) rule by which any and
| all members who shall enlist either
| for this or any other threatening war,
such as the impending attack on
| Nicaragua shall by that act cease to
be members Of the party.
eff ComraCe Haywood makes this
claim for his resolution it can not be
established. He may have intended to
propose both these things, but there
is not a word in his resolution to that
I effect. We have simply the express
sion of Comrade Haywood,s personal
opinion in a very incoherent and
verbose preamble to a very silly and
| ineffective resolve. If every member
of the N. E. c.. voted in favor of Hay
woods motion It would simply mean
that every member believed in a gen
| eral strike as a means Of preventing
war with Mexico, and In SUCH q change
| in our constitution as would automatl-
members who might enlist TOR service
In such war.
There is not q single word or syll-
able providing for the translation OF
this Opinion into effective acuon.
Comrade Haywood is apparently con-
tent with mere verbal piety!
eve have the declaration that the
Socialists of England and other coun-
49, ING an "0f10n
posed by the French and English
delegates at the last international
Congress- calling for a general strike
The further declaration Is made that
the motion will undoubtedly be car
RED and the Socialists of this conn-
try cannot afford to wait until the mn
Al decision has been reached These
declarations are followed by the very
illuminating statement that This gen
eral strike may require some time toT
it's prebaration.' That is ALL
els Comrade Haywood assuming
that the decision of the Socialists OF
England In favor Of the Hardie-Vail
liant motion will decide the matter for 1
the American Socialist movement, or
what?
without even Offering q motion or
dering a general strike here, he ap- |
pears to take it for granted that the |
N. E. C.zwill order one. Toshe1p the |
good work along, by way of q CON
structive contribution, he tells us that |
This general strike may require some |
time Tor Its preparationH
q am not opposed to the general
strike as q Appropriateness and
wherever the workers are 80 organic
Al 0r ~ ha a1,l< ~ 4fno ff-afho.kivalV