Socialist Propaganda League
Encyclopedia
The Socialist Propaganda League was a tiny socialist group active in London from circa 1911 to 1951.
The League was formed as a result of an early dispute in the Socialist Party of Great Britain
and of the optimistic belief of the Party’s founder members that the socialist revolution was near. A group of members around Henry Martin
and Augustus Snellgrove wanted the Party to take a definitive stand on the attitude socialist delegates elected to parliament
or local councils would take towards reform measures
proposed by one or more of the capitalist parties.
In February 1910 a letter from “W.B. (Upton Park)” was sent to the Socialist Standard
asking, The perspective of this small group of members was that no reform of capitalism could ever be supported by the party claiming to represent working-class interests as it was not the job of socialists to take part in the running of capitalism. Any attempt to do so would run counter to the famous ‘hostility clause’ of the Party's Declaration of Principles. The Standard’s reply on the matter, backed by the Party’s Executive Committee, stated that This did not satisfy the members who had raised the question, who formed a ‘Provisional Committee’ aimed at overturning the position espoused in the Standard’s reply and who set their case out in an ‘Open Letter’ to Party members, arguing that socialists were required to oppose measures introduced by capitalist parties on each and every occasion. This was again rebutted firmly by the EC who contended that it would be ridiculous for socialists, by way of example, to oppose a measure designed to stop a war in which the working class was being butchered.
Believing this approach to be a violation of the principle of ‘no compromise’, several members resigned over this issue during 1911, a small number going on to found the Socialist Propaganda League. The SPL’s principal speaker and writer was Henry Martin
, Snellgrove having been one of
those from the Provisional Committee later to rejoin the SPGB. Though Martin was sympathetic to the SPGB in all other respects, he continued to denounce the its willingness to engage in ‘political trading’ in pamphlets and on the outdoor platform until his death in 1951.
The League was formed as a result of an early dispute in the Socialist Party of Great Britain
Socialist Party of Great Britain
The Socialist Party of Great Britain , is a small Marxist political party within the impossibilist tradition. It is best known for its advocacy of using the ballot box for revolutionary purposes; opposition to reformism; and its early adoption of the theory of state capitalism to describe the...
and of the optimistic belief of the Party’s founder members that the socialist revolution was near. A group of members around Henry Martin
Henry Martin
Henry Martin is an American cartoonist. He received the National Cartoonist Society Gag Cartoon Award for 1978 for his work. He is the father of popular children's author Ann M. Martin.-External links:*...
and Augustus Snellgrove wanted the Party to take a definitive stand on the attitude socialist delegates elected to parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
or local councils would take towards reform measures
Reformism
Reformism is the belief that gradual democratic changes in a society can ultimately change a society's fundamental economic relations and political structures...
proposed by one or more of the capitalist parties.
In February 1910 a letter from “W.B. (Upton Park)” was sent to the Socialist Standard
Socialist Standard
The Socialist Standard is a monthly socialist magazine published without interruption since 1904 by the Socialist Party of Great Britain. The magazine is written in a simple, direct style and focuses mainly on socialist advocacy and Marxian analysis of current events, particularly those affecting...
asking, The perspective of this small group of members was that no reform of capitalism could ever be supported by the party claiming to represent working-class interests as it was not the job of socialists to take part in the running of capitalism. Any attempt to do so would run counter to the famous ‘hostility clause’ of the Party's Declaration of Principles. The Standard’s reply on the matter, backed by the Party’s Executive Committee, stated that This did not satisfy the members who had raised the question, who formed a ‘Provisional Committee’ aimed at overturning the position espoused in the Standard’s reply and who set their case out in an ‘Open Letter’ to Party members, arguing that socialists were required to oppose measures introduced by capitalist parties on each and every occasion. This was again rebutted firmly by the EC who contended that it would be ridiculous for socialists, by way of example, to oppose a measure designed to stop a war in which the working class was being butchered.
Believing this approach to be a violation of the principle of ‘no compromise’, several members resigned over this issue during 1911, a small number going on to found the Socialist Propaganda League. The SPL’s principal speaker and writer was Henry Martin
Henry Martin (socialist)
Henry Martin , also known as Harry Martin, was a British socialist.Martin was one of the most notable of the impossibilists in the Social Democratic Federation , and helped found the Socialist Party of Great Britain later that year...
, Snellgrove having been one of
those from the Provisional Committee later to rejoin the SPGB. Though Martin was sympathetic to the SPGB in all other respects, he continued to denounce the its willingness to engage in ‘political trading’ in pamphlets and on the outdoor platform until his death in 1951.