POLITICAL STRATEGY

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 4, 5 July 1927, Page 16

POLITICAL STRATEGY

SOCIALIST METHODS

THE ARJ OF BEIXG GOOD

The Welfare League writes:—

In the early days of the Socialist movement the advocates of Socialism were plain speakers. They said just ■what they meant and meant just what they said. Strategy was ignored in preference to honest statement of principles. The ideas might be regarded as Utopian or'ridiculous but such reception did not disconcert the true believers in the gospel of Socialism. Men of the stamp of Morris, Hyndman and Blatchf ord did not <hape their thought or mould their expression to please or satisfy the great British public, they spoke and wrote for no other; purpose than to express their convictions in the clearest and most definite terms. In the days of the "soap box," the period of almost exclusive street corner oratory, the Socialist no doubt iindulged in expounding-many crude and wild ideas, but it was felt that at any r..te%in most instances they weroiin earnest and not trying to mislead any one. Much that was spoken and written for Socialism in those days was of an acadenr character, and appealed largely to the emotions. These early SocI ialists were Reformers rather than Revolutionists, though they might at times use the word Revolution. : THE POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE.

A great change has come about since the movement entered the field .f olities. Its leaders, and even most of the rank and file, have adopted the role of opportunism. The political moti -es of catching votes; of exercising influence by;more subtle speech; of gaining preferment and emolument, and of reaching positions of power have created an atmosphere of doubt as to what are their real convictions or indentions.

As a strategical mov» they have laid aside the .name "Socialist" for the more indefinite, or respectable, title tf "Labour." In the transition from thj stage of non-party social missionaries to their present position of political party rulers they have' exercised the method of designed premation of the trades and labour unions and other organisations. In this connection, it is amusing to find_ them blaming the Communists for doing just what they themselves have done. •

' Permeation, control from outside, abusing the then leaders, capturing the offices. By such means the Socialists have gained control of the. labour unions. It has been their strategy towarcja creating a mass party organisation, and the Communists are now following on'the same lines. "All is justifiable which makes for the advancement of the party" was the dictum of Lenin. The Socialists have held much the same view and for that reason the political lines of Socialism and Communism so cross each other aa to leave i little distinction between them. Beep red or pail pink, the strategy of Socialists in politics is opportunist and for that reason requires ito be most vigilantly guarded against. FROM BED TO PINK. It is interesting to read the past utterances of the leaders of the New Zealand Labour Party (Socialist) and contrast these with the mild pronouncements of the present time. Just a,few short years back and Mr. P. Fraser, M.P. hailed Lenin and TrotBky as "two of the greatest statesmen of modern times." Now Mr. JR. Semple denounces the Communist gang as the most dangerous enemy of the Labour movement. The soft pedal 1-av-ing been adopted as the organ:of the party cv y effort is,bei«g madeHo assure the p....uej'"that the party is not really red but only a palo pink at most. "Be good, my son, and let who will bo clever." is the advice being tendered.to all who speak in the party's name. >

' It is'-almost-pathetic t6 note how readily tho lesson is being learnt by their followers. The public, of course, are expected to witness this reformation as entirely genuino and vote accordingly. -"Vho was it said. "The good die young?" Well, it is easy to bo good politically—just profess you arc. Yet, after all, the public are not so stupid us they are taken to Be. The most masterly strategy of all is truthfulnoss, not subtlety or pretence.