The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-11-29
THE soc4A11sr PARTY AND TRADE UNIONS.


THE SOCIALIST PARTY AND TRADE UNIONS.
The New Times the Socialist publication that criti
cised the creation Of legislative fund by the Mime
sofa State Federation Of Labor, The Labor
World of misrepresenting the attitude Of the Socias
party towards the trade unions. It declares that
to its surprise, "adopt tactics quite in line with CAPT
talis opponents because take it to buttnt
into economic fight by opposing the creation
fund to help us to better wage fight for immediate
legislative needs
The Socialists make loud pretenses about their be-
lief in the economic organization of the working
But they will stand by trade union unless it is Off
cered by members of the Socialist party. The United
Mine Workers. the Western Federation of Miners the
International Association of Machinists the Pressment
union, the United Brewery Workers one or two 9th
ers happen to be controlled by trade who
affiliated with the Socialist party. They or.
CARNATIONS to the SKIES and hail them typical indus
trial organizations And their only reason for doine
so is that members of their party Of
labor organizations.
There are other labor organizations affiliated with
the American Federation of Labor, which are Off
cered by members of the Socialist party but which are
industrial in form, that do not get peep in from the
Socialist publications. And they every bit as pro
gressive the much heralded Socialist trade unions
The fact is the thinking trade unonist who
away by Socialist enthusiasm knows full we'll that
Socialist politician differs only from other kinds poll
ticans in the color of the party label.
The New Times sets man Of straw and then il
attempts to knock it down. It holds to the false belief
that every member of the legislature capitalist poll
tcan except those elected Socialist ticket Al
matter of fact we point to dozen members
recent legislature who voted for less number Of capt
tallst bills than did the lone Socialist member AND
these same members voted for every bill that the So
callst member supported. If the New Times has any
doubt about the truth of this statement may we not
ask how Hillman the lone Socialist member voted On
the tonnage tax bl and then compare his vote with
and several other non-socaist friends Of labor
who voted against the BILL
1t is a beautiful theory the New Times has about
the Socialist party and the trade unions working
shoulder to shoulder hand in hand, unions the
Industrial field and the Socialist party the political
field for the present ameoration of the lot of the
ing classes But have found that there chance
for such mutual arrangement unless the unions sur.
render themselves body soul and breeches to casi
conscious" program of the Socialist party.
We have no quarrel with any workingmen who are
members of the Socialist party It is their privilege
join any political party they may choose But do
strongly object to the policy of Socialists examining
down the threats of trade unionists political
that is much at variance with the trade union phos
ophy night is from day.
If the Socialists will attend their political knit
Ing where they properly belong and keep their out
of trade union business the Socialist party of
many does, there will be quarrel between We
simply will not stand for bunch Of "inteectuas who
have sympathy with the real labor movement buttins
into our affairs.
We represent the only working class movement in
America Only bona fde working men eligible for
membership in trade unions. We think we know
what want, and believe know how to get it.
We have done fairly we'll far and if the real trade
unonists in the labor movement will remain true to
trade union principles will get what want in
spite of Socialist opposition.