This document, still circulated as Tract 70, is
interesting both as a brief and vivid exposition of Fabianism and
because it gave rise to another of the long series of fights on the
policy of political toleration. The passage chiefly objected to,
written, of course, for foreigners, and therefore more detailed than
otherwise would be necessary, is as follows:--
"FABIAN ELECTORAL TACTICS.
"The Fabian Society does not claim to be the people of England, or
even the Socialist party, and therefore does not seek direct
political representation by putting forward Fabian candidates at
elections. But it loses no opportunity of influencing elections, and
inducing constituencies to select Socialists as their candidates. No
person, however, can obtain the support of the Fabian Society or
escape its opposition, merely by calling himself a Socialist or
Social-Democrat. As there is no Second Ballot in England, frivolous
candidatures give great offence and discredit the party in whose name
they are undertaken, because any third candidate who is not well
supported will not only be beaten himself but may also involve in his
defeat the better of the two candidates competing with him. Under
such circumstances the Fabian Society throws its weight against the
third candidate, whether he calls himself a Socialist or not, in
order to secure the victory to the better of the two candidates
between whom the contest really lies.
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