100 THE CLASS STRUGGLE CURRENT AFFAIRS 101 Meyer London In the last election the Twelfth Congressional District sent Meyer London for the second time to the House of Representatives. But America working class is without a representative in Congress.
Rarely is the representative of a revolutionary movement give so splendid an opportunity of bringing before the whole nation its fundamental principles and motives. The war, and particularly the American intervention, have opeend up a field for propaganda that is unequalled in the annals of the Socialist movement of America. The whole situation cried out to us to forget small minded public and party politics, to carry on a class conscious campaign that would open the eyes of the blindest to the difference between Socialist and capitalist politics. It having become almost impossible to detect even a shade of difference between the policies of the Democratic administration and the Republican opposition forces, it was more important than ever to emphasize dramatically the inherent antithesis that exists between bourgeois capitalist and proletarian revolutionary modes of thought and action.
In such times as these the only Socialist could have ab.
stained from the methods of narrow criticism and small mindedness that so often fall to the lot of the single handed powerless Socialist Representative.
He had merely to take a decided and logical stand upon all the great questions that came up for action within the last six months. It was his duty to portray in broad strokes the basis of Socialist opposition against war. To him was given the priceless opportunity of bringing to those hundreds of thousands who have stubbornly refused hitherto to see our point of view an understanding and acceptance of our ideals.
The opposition to war that was voiced in Congress was for the most part of the lowest type. Bourgeois opponents of administration policies, actuated by a variety of more or less honest motives, sought to explain and justify their opposition by the Alimiest of excuses. It lay in the power of Meyer London to nip in the bud the shameful stigma that has been attached to the anti war position of the Socialist Party. He was the one man who could have forced respect and understanding for our opposition to war he, more than the National Executive Committee or even the National Convention. He could have disproved the accusation of Pro Germanism, could have shown that our opposition to war was founded upon the principles of the Internationalist Socialist movement.
Instead, he was silent. And when he spoke it was to give voice to words that differed not a whit from the wisdom of the average bourgeois reformer. All of this gave to the falsifications of the capitalist press and slanderous public opinion a certain foundation and appearance of truth.
It is not our purpose here to present a detailed account of London grave mistakes, if they must not be called by a harsher word. That he voted present, or abstained from voting altogether, whenever an important measure came up; that he neglected every opportunity of manifesting serious opposition to war in direct violation of the wording of our St. Louis program and resolution these are matters that, long ago, have merited decisive action at the hands of the party. After all, these matters are of secondary consideration. man like London, who cannot understand the Socialist point of view toward war and its problems cannot be held responsible if he sins in individual acts of commission and omission.
London parliamentary career is a complete fiasco. He is done formis politically dead. But new Meyer Londons will arise to discredit the Socialist movement, if we do not, once and for all, abandon the unhappy practice of looking for a popular candidate, instead of nominating men of recognized principles and integrity who can adequately represent Socialism, particularly in times of crisis.
Tom Mooney and Alexander Berkman The scenery is set for the final act of the play that has been staged by the banditti of San Francisco. Tom Mooney, who committed the unpardonable crime of organizing the street railway workers of the Golden Gate, is to pay for his temerity at the gallows.