Editorial: An Interesting Document. (1907)

Editorial from the June 1907 issue of the Socialist Standard

In another column appears a statement issued by some ex-members of the S.D.F. who now form the South Hants Socialist Society. These men have come to see, as we have long seen, that only Socialism matters, and that the S.D.F. is hopeless from the working-class point of view.

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In Southampton, as elsewhere, the only result of S.D.F. propaganda and electoral campaigns is working-class confusion or disgust. And no other result could indeed be expected from the intriguing and spineless policy of that organisation ; for a particular brand of conscription typifies its conception of revolutionary propaganda, while its main energies are diverted from Socialism to the realisation of children’s soup kitchens.

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The Policy and Objects of the South Hants Socialist Society are not before us, but we conclude from the statement issued that it is a purely propagandist body. It would appear that disgust with the political intrigues of the S.D.F. has caused them to say that their interest in the use of elections for propaganda purposes has vanished. But has the use of elections for Socialism been given a fair trial in Southampton? Has it not rather been the policy of the S.D.F. there to attempt to get their man into office by hook or by crook, irrespective of principle ?

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For elections to be of use for propagandist purposes they must be run straight for Socialism and by a straight party. In which case not only are they useful for propaganda, but also to train the Socialist worker in some of the duties before him. In any case, the capture of political power is necessary, and the work must be begun.

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The days are past for a purely propagandist body. It is a way of shirking the fight. To merely propagate principles without at the same time organising for their political and economic realisation is to waste valuable effort and to contribute to the still further confusion of our class. The revolution will not be accomplished by words : it needs organisation and action ; and step by step as the workers become convinced of the soundness of Socialism they must be enrolled within the ranks of a militant organisation so that the mustering of forces and the training of men may go steadily forward for the capture of the political and industrial machinery of the world for the workers.