interests in opposition to those of the employers."

It may come as a surprise to the reader to hear that at the 1917 St.
Louis Convention of the Socialist Party the anti-sabotage and
anti-direct action plank of the Constitution was dropped. The
"International Socialist Review," May, 1917, page 669, commenting on the
removal of the clause, says:

"It has served its purpose, which was to guillotine and drive out
most of the revolutionary workers from the party. The Constitution
committee recommended that it be striken out by unanimous consent
without going on the minutes or records. Ruthenberg opposed. He
insisted that it be struck out and the minutes show the record of
the action. It was carried almost unanimously."

Further on we read in the same issue of "The International Socialist
Review":

"An industrial union plank to be inserted in the platform was defeated
by a vote of 63 to 61. Had it been offered as a resolution it would have
gone through by a big majority." Though most of the Convention favored
the I. W. W., evidently a small majority feared to put the Socialist
Party on record.

In 1918 and 1919 the Socialist Party grew more and more friendly to the
I. W. W. At present they seem to have fallen in love with each other.
The American Federation of Labor is held in greatest contempt by the
Socialist press, while the I. W. W. is lauded to the skies. Its meetings
are advertised, sympathy and aid are extended to its imprisoned
officials and everything is being done to help it along.

Eugene V. Debs has all along been the sincere friend of the I. W. W. In
the February, 1918, issue of the "International Socialist Review," page
395, he says:

"Every plutocrat, every profiteering pirate, every food vulture,
every exploiter of labor, every robber and oppressor of the poor,
every hog under a silk tile, every vampire in human form will tell
you that the A. F. of L. under Gompers is a great and patriotic
organization and that the I. W. W. under Haywood is a gang of
traitors in the pay of the bloody Kaiser.

"Which of these, think you, Mr. Wage-Slave, is your friend and the
friend of your class?....

"The war within the war and beyond the war in which the I. W. W. is
fighting--the war of the workers of all countries against the
exploiters of all countries--is our war, the war of humanity
against its oppressors and despoilers