o discuss
anything. Who is it that is so fearful you will discuss politics? It is
the ward-heeling politician, and isn't it because he knows very well
that if you ever get into politics in the right way he will be out of a
job? He is afraid you will get your eyes open.

Why should a union man be afraid to discuss politics? He belongs to a
certain party; his father belonged to that party and his grandfather
belonged to that party, and perhaps his great-grandfather belonged to
the same party, and that is probably the only reason he can give for
belonging to that party. He don't want anybody to suggest to him the
possibility of being lifted out of that party and into some other.

Parties change. The party that was good forty years ago is completely
outgrown and corrupt and has now no purpose but the promotion of graft
and other vicious practices.

Workingmen in their organized capacity must recognize the necessity for
both economic and political action. I would not have you declare in
favor of any particular political party. That would be another mistake
which would have disastrous results. If I could have you pass a
resolution to support the Socialist party I would not do it. You can't
make Socialists by passing resolutions. Men have to become Socialists by
study and experience, and they are getting the experience every day.

There is one fact, and a very important one, that I would impress upon
you, and that is the necessity for revolutionary working class political
action.

No one will attempt to dispute the fact that our interests as workers
are identical. If our interests are identical, then we ought to unite.
We ought to unite within the same organization, and if there is a strike
we should all strike, and if there is a boycott all of us ought to
engage in it. If our interests are identical, it follows that we ought
to belong to the same party as well as to the same economic
organization. What is politics? It is simply the reflex of economics.
What is a party? It is the expression politically of certain material
class interests. You belong to that party that you believe will promote
your material welfare. Is not that a fact? If you find yourself in a
party that attacks your pocket do you not quit that party?

Now, if you are in a party that opposes your interests it is because you
don't have intelligence enough to understand your interests. That is
where the capitalists have the better of you. As a rule, they a