The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-06-03
Debs, the Apostle of Secession
A Short History of His Many Failures Published
Edtorially by the American Federationist
Interesting Reading.

In rapid succession Mr.. Debs trans
lated his potential leadership to the per-
verting inhibition of his dominating
egotism from one field of destructive
activities to another until we find him
launched in the maelstrom of the In
dustrial Workers of the World
a perusal of the published steno-
graphic report of Mr.. Debs' speeches
in the convention of the |. w. w. is
Illuminating and instructive to the stu
dent not only of the labor movement
but one of the most notorious egotsts
the world has yet possessed.
From the moment that he was lured
from his duty and devotion to the
brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
his leadership has evinced the coercive
miasma that has nflamed his mind and
poisoned all his relations with the men
and women of the bona ide labor move
ment of America. He incu!cated the
spirit and the habit of secession and to
him this amounted to fetish.
But a new period in his life is mark
ed by a change in his ambition. He no
longer saw himself as the general of the
labor forces in the active industrial
struggle but he conceived of himself
as the philosophical advisor. 1t was
when he reached this stage some years
ago that we designated him as the
opposite of Failure He associated
with the Socialist party, which is based
upon what a writer has called, "1he
Philosophy of Misery" and as its can
didate for the presidency, led the red
flag consistently toward that goal. But
not content with being the apostle of
| Failure"-a living example of failure
he wishes to drag all with him to final
undoing and chaos. The apostle of
Failure" evolves into the opposite of
! Secession" of Division and of Disrup
ton.
Not only did Mr. Debs interpose to
prevent the reaffiliation of the Western
Fed deration of Miners with the A. F. of
L. but failing in that, he appealed to
all the miners to secede from the ma
tional labor movement and to work out
an independent existence in conflict with
the A. F. of L. Failing in that, he now
encourages, aids and abets disruptive
elements within the United Mine
Workers. .t#
For years the miners have struggled
to organize the miners of West Vir-
| ginia-to secure for them the benefits of
union standards and the protection of
! the organized labor movement. When
that was accomplished after untold sac
riilce, suffering and even loss of hui
man life, Mr.. Debs has the hardihood to
address an open letter to malcontents
who seek to destroy the power and the
unity of the miners organization of
| West Virginia. His own craven spirit
and motives are reflected in the motives
| he attributes to men in the miners or
ganization and in the charges he makes
against them, Failure has been his own
porton-failure he would bring upon
others even if that purpose should
mean the disruption of the trade union
movement which alone protects work
ers and brings betterment into their
lives.
This opposite of Failure" this failure
as the standardbearcr of the party of
failure, wants to demonstrate a recru-
descence of power in tearing down the
pillars of the Temple of Labor.
But the spirit Of disruption will not
prevail
There are now over 100000 organ
lied workers who appreciate the neces-
sity of union: their number is CON
stantly increasing. They know that
through united action come better OPP
portunities and better lives, that through
division results oppression, deterioration
Of present standards and loss of oppor-
tllnities and freedom. They know that
if they stay together they can somehow
work out their own differences of opin-
ion and advance the general cause. They
regard secession as treason not only to
the labor movement but to the move
ment for humanity.
Secession from the organized labor