The Washington herald., 1913-02-17
"The Parting Of the Ways"

"The Parting Of the Ways"
No wonder that the politicians of the
Socialist party preferred not to be sad
died any longer with William d. Hay
wood-now the leader of the Industrial
Workers of the World-particularly
since he declared publicly that the
worker retains absolutely no respect
for the property rights of the profit
takers, because he knows that the
present laws OF property are made by
and for capitalists. Hence he does not
hesitate to break them"
/ The issue between the Socialists and
Haywood plainly is the choice between
revolution by the legitimate acquire
ment of political power through ma
jority rule and revolution by means of
terrorism which reckless minorities oc-
casionally have employed in their ef-
forts 10 bend the majorities TO their
will
The effort of the older leaders TO
cxpcl Haywood from membership in
the national executive committee was
very formidable Failure would have
been a misfortune to the organization.
because it would have been accepted
by the public as proof that the things
Haywood stands for had become dom
inant in a revolutionary party that had
been founded on the principle OF a
purely political-not of bloodletting-
action.
We are not surprised that the ma
Jority of the leaders of the Socialist
party do not indorse Haywood. He is
a tough dose for extremists even TO
swallow. There is a description of him
and his doings in the Survey, entitled
The Parting of the Ways in Ameri-
can Socialism" 1t is an excellent pres
entation of the issue and a complete
explanation what an Endorsement OF
Haywood would mean politically. The
article is the more telling and authori-
tative as the author also is an In
dustrial Socialist" and, therefore, pre-
sumably in sympathy with the "Syn-
dicalist' programme. Perhaps this is
the reason why the writer fails TO suf- |
fciently clarity the relation that Hay
wood bears TO physical violence, crime.
and terrorism, as revolutionary agent. |
The article referred to is a defense Of
the academic position of the direct |
actionists," OF whom Haywood is a
leader. But practical application and
results are not discussed.
Still Haywood is universally regard
ed as direct actionist" of the very
worst type. Sabotage is an insignifi-
cant thing compared with what the
general public believes Haywood to be
capable OF doing As the writer in
the Survey puts it To the public Hay
wood is best and widest known as the
man who was tried in 1906 and &C
quilted, together with Meyer and Petit
bone, for the murder OF Ex-Goy.
Steunenberg
The entire country is fully aware of
what is involved whenever direct ac-
ton" is being discussed in connection
with Haywood, now a leader Of the
Industrial Workers OF the World. His
-ecord calls for judgment as to morals
when determining whether this mans
leadership should be accepted. Hence
he deliberate action OF the old So
;ialist party-a purely political organi-
yation-to rid itself OF the man in or
icr that the old and tried and perhaps
organization may live and
-etain the respect of the citizens,
hough they do not belicyy in its aims
md altruistic ideals, which, to some ex-
ent, may sound well in theory. but
which are valueless as to results in
practice