Not long ago Ben Tillett came from England as the representative of labor. All his life he worked to help the men of toil. In point of honest worth Ben Tillett far outweighs ten thousand blooded princes. Yet workingmen, except the few, ignored him, and the scant regard they showed him is to their disgrace. The point I make is, that from the time the ship that brought the prince touched our shore until it left again no workingman was tolerated in any banquet or reception tendered him in the name of the American people. Office-holders and politicians spouted, while capitalists lined the tables and wined and dined themselves—all of which simply proves that there are no classes in the United States, and that Socialism has no business in a republic. The envoys for the coronation of King Edward have been announced by President Roosevelt. There will be no hornyhanded prince of labor there. Whitelaw Reid, known only for being the opposite of Horace Greeley, and as small as he was great, will be our knee-breeched, official flunkey at the crowning of the king. Of course it would not be consistent for our president to drop a crumb of comfort to the Boers. Let it not be understood that I have the slightest feeling against Henry of Prussia; it is the prince I have no use for. Personally, he may be a good fellow, and I am inclined to believe he is, and if he were in trouble and I had it in my power to help he would find in me a friend. The amputation of his title would relieve him of his royal affliction and elevate him to the dignity of a man. This is a necessary part of the mission of Socialism, and the revolutionary movement is sweeping over the United States as well as Germany. It means the end of princes, the end of paupers and the beginning of Man. “To ears attuned, the victor’s shouts Are crossing o’er the sea; Resounding like Jove’s thunder peals The working class are free.” Revolution _New York Worker, April 27, 1907_ This is the first and only International Labor Day. It belongs to the working class and is dedicated to the Revolution. Today the slaves of all the world are taking a fresh breath in the long and weary march; pausing a moment to clear their lungs and shout for joy; celebrating in festal fellowship their coming Freedom. All hail the Labor Day of May! The day of the proletarian protest; The day of stern resolve; The day of noble aspiration. Raise high this day the blood-red Standard of the Revolution! The banner of the Workingman; The flag, the only flag, of Freedom. * * * * *