ABSTRACT
The “utopian” socialists of the first half of the nineteenth century were mostly humanitarian idealists who preached social justice on religious or moral grounds. The Socialist Labor party, which was formed in 1877 after several abortive efforts to unite all radical factions, was from the beginning a militant political organization. Strictly Marxist in its principles and aims, it sought to indoctrinate workingmen by means of political education. Its candidates made a relatively good showing in the 1878 campaign, but in subsequent elections their popularity fluctuated radically. The expulsion of William D. Haywood and his followers from the Socialist party injured both groups: the Industrial Workers of the World lost the bonds which kept it in balance and the party was deprived of its militant radicalism. On the eve of the declaration of war by the United States in April 1917, the Socialist party called an emergency convention in St. Louis.
