Co-operators decline a Debate (1944)

Party News from the June 1944 issue of the Socialist Standard

The Hackney Branch of the S.P.G.B., having challenged the Co-operators to debate, received from the Political Committee of the London Co-operative Society on April 10th a letter refusing the challenge on the ground that “no useful purpose would be served.” The letter continues :—.

“The job that lies before us—namely, to defeat and replace the capitalist system—is far too big to waste time in discussing the merits of alternative methods of its achievement. We must all apply ourselves to this job in our own way and hope that the time is not far distant when.our work will be crowned with success.”

The reasons given for refusing to debate indicate a complete lack of understanding of Socialism. In order to make the position clear, we can assure the Co-operators that the complete success of the Co-operative movement will not end capitalism and establish Socialism. Whatever may be said for the aims of such men as Robert Owen a century ago, the modern Co-operative movement has long abandoned them and is now merely a particular form of capitalist trading and manufacturing concern trying to compete with other capitalist concerns in their own field. The Co-operative movement is not a Socialist movement, and is not helping forward the Socialist movement either by its dividend-hunting trading operations or by its political activities in association with the Labour Party. For the Co-operators a debate about the aims and methods of the Socialist movement would at least help them to understand where it differs from their own movement. May we hope that the Political Committee will have second thoughts and accept the debate?

Editorial Committee.