Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-04-23


the American Trades Union Move
Not only to organize more than two
million workers of all nationalities in
a new country with the highest cap
italistic development and political cor
ruption in one federation, but to score
great victories for them, that is the
greatest service which the leaders
could render the movement, no mat
ter what views they might represent
outside of the union. AS mentioned
by Mr.. C. Eegien, the President of
the international Federation of Trades
Unions in his book, just published,
THE American Labor Movement
the American Federation Of Labor has
had to fight down many differences,
often, unfortunately, against the lead
ing personages in the Socialist move
ment. 1t is a lamentable fact that
the socialists have often made the
mistake of opposing the Federation
of Labor or even establishing rival
organizations. 1t must be incompre-
nensible to everybody acquainted with
the circumstances that such mistakes
are still being made by people for
whose utterances the Socialist Party
is, in certain degree, responsible.
The latest incident of this nature has
been dealt with by the New Yorker
Volkszeitung, which is not very levient
in its criticisms of the Federation of
Labor and it's ,leaders-in an article,
the arguments of which every trades
unionist can only endorse. Inasmuch
as he is member Of the Socialist
Party every trade unionist must take
steps to prevent the self-styled poll
teal orators from exceeding the limits
in their utterances, but now to the
New Yorker Volszeitung," the lead
ing article of which for aMrch 7th,
under the above heading ran as fol
lows:
I'm the March number OF the "In-
ternational Socialist Review" Eugene
V. Debs again publishes a more than
remarkable article, "a plea for solidar-
| ity," which for the sake of the editor,
is worth repeating. Since Brother
Debs, as perpetual candidate for the
Presidency Of the Socialist Party, is
regarded by the man in the street as
their official representation, his words
fallaciously and unjustifably
weight to which they are in no way en-
titled.
The Coming solid party" which, &C.
cording to Debs, should bes triven for
by every socialist, consists of COM
bining the awo factions of the 1. w. W.
(Syndicalistic organizations), and the
two political socialistic parties, the S.
P. and the S. L p, which would then
work together in harmony and friend
ship in order to create really radical
and mighty labor movement in the
United States. It may be clearely
seen from this program that the ami
hilation of the A. F. of L. as well as
the immediate secession of the United
Mine Workers and the Western Fed
Grafton of Miners is intended.
We have. accustomed ourselves to
lavishing affection and reverence up
on Eugene v. Degbs. The purity of
his motives, the unimpeachable hon.
esty of his intentions no less than his
great propaganda services to the
American Labor Movement are as
dust in ones eyes to his numerous
lodges, fndiscretions, etc. But this
forbearance has its limits; and the
time seems to have come when we
must say outright that Debs has used
his privilege to perpetrate indiscre-
ton after indiscretion in&order to gain
an advantage over the others rather
too freely.
It took the Socialist PARTY a whole
year to overcome the syndicalistic
It had during this period.
endeavored, and with partial success.
to recover the $4,000 members, which
they had lost through the crafty anti
political propaganda of the Industrial |
Workers" and to again present to
their organization that warlike spirit |
which it possessed belongs the direct /
action period. 1t has, however, no
sooner finished with its work than
one of it's leaders turned up to lend
'enewed vitality to those enemies
which the party has just been success
ul in vanQuishing!
In order to justify his surprising
Debs must deceive him
elf as regards one circumstance, in
which he-the great sentimentalist |
md dreamer cannot possibly believe,