attacks of the church? Let us have
the courage of our convictions, not only in matters of social and
economic significance, but in all things affecting the interests of
the toiling masses of humanity, including religious institutions."

Rev. E. E. Carr, writing in the "Christian Socialist," Chicago, May 15,
1907, informs us that, "The Christian Socialists do not ask or desire
that the party declare for religion. Strictly speaking, Socialism is a
purely economic proposition.... We demand absolute freedom of religious
opinion in the party, and that officials of the party cease teaching
anti-religious dogma as an essential part of Socialist philosophy."

Dishonest Socialists, when arguing that their party does not advocate
atheism as the "religion" of their contemplated state, frequently appeal
to the religious plank of their 1908 National Platform, which declares
that the Socialist Party is not concerned with matters of religious
belief.

Though this deceitful appeal of the "Knights of the Red Flag" has been
exposed time and again, still it seems expedient that the underhand
methods of the party which boasts of being the only one sufficiently
honest and upright to fight for the rights of poor and oppressed
workingmen, be better known to the American people, and that the more
important parts of the indoor convention speeches be presented in
greater detail.

Pages 191 to 205 of the "Proceedings of the 1908 National Convention of
the Socialist Party," edited by John M. Work, published by the Socialist
Party[19], and sold at 50 cents a copy at the National Office of the
party, Chicago, Illinois, bear the following ample testimony to the
hypocrisy of the Revolutionists.

When Delegate Simons had finished reading the proposal of the platform
committee "that religion be treated as a private matter--a question of
individual conscience," Arthur M. Lewis, a delegate from Illinois rose
and moved its rejection, saying:

"I am among those who sincerely hoped the question of religion
would not be raised at this convention. I am willing to concede so
far that we shall let sleeping dogs lie. I know that the Socialist
position in philosophy on the question of religion does not make a
good campaign subject. It is not useful in the propaganda of a
presidential campaign, and therefore I am willing that we should be
silent about it. But if we must speak, I propose that we shall go