Vanguard December 1915
Source: J.D.M., Vanguard, December 1915, p. 7;
Transcribed: by Ted Crawford.
We note with satisfaction that Mr. Dan Irving and “Justice” are displeased with the attitude we have taken up here in Glasgow in Comrade John Maclean’s case.
We can only be grateful to these gentlemen for dissociating themselves from us, International Social Democrats. An approval by them of our action would of necessity have compelled us to revise our views. Their approval would have inclined us to think that we must have made a mistake.
When I stated at the Court that members of our organisation would require to be under severe pressure before they would abandon their principles and willingly join the Army, and that of our party only reservists or men dismissed from their employment are in the Army, I knew, of course, about the existence of Dan Irving, Victor Fisher, Hunter Watts, Headingley and Hyndman, who are doing their best to shepherd other people into the Army. When Maclean stated that not the soldiers were murderers, but those who sent them to war, he undoubtedly was aware that within the B.S.P. were some very active recruiting agents.
We believe, however, that these gentlemen should have long ago left the party and joined the Conservatives.
Should they have had any decency they would have felt that they were alien to the party after the results of the Divisional Conferences. We remind them of their duty.
So far as “Justice” is concerned, it has long been the echo of the “Daily Express” and the “Morning-Post.” We are, therefore, not surprised that they have taken Irving’s letter and printed it as comment on the trial of Maclean.
J.D.M.