Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1904-12-28


and worthy of reproduction;
l speak as a class conscious,
working class Socialist. Yes, a
wage-working class Socialist; a pro-
letarian Socialist. 1t seems to me
that ouI contention has not been
clearly enough stated. Nor the
reason for our fear of middle-class
domination of the party. Neither
is the preventative we advance for
such domination put clearly enough
before the membership of the party.
Let me state the case. There is
a tendency amongst the members of
the American Socialist party-of the
international Socialist party-to ap-
peal for support to the dying middle
class, and even to the capitalist
class; to appeal to all classes" as
the quickest and most effective way
to reach the goal of the co-opera-
tive commonwealth. The argument
being that once a person under
stands the beauties of Socialism,
provided they are of ordinary moral
worth, they will support it irrespec-
tive of their class interests. This
the scientific Socialist brands as fall
lacious doctrine and capable of be-
coming destructive of our purposes.
Hence there has arisen a conflict
within the party between the sup
porters of these two ideas.
Now, the base of our argument is
this: That whether it benefits any
one else or not. Socialism is the
only thing that will benefit the work
ing class. Also, that it is the his
toric mission of the working class to
conquer all other classes and by the
establishment of Socialism abolish
all class rule. Reasoning from this
first premise the latter naturally fol-
lows. These things granted, the
thing to do to accomplish the end
desired is to acquaint the workers
with their historic mission in order
that they may act. We have no
time to bother with the middle class
nor the capitalist class if we pay
proper attention to the working
class.
Rises the sentimentalist and says,
You would keep all honest individ-
uals in sympathy with the workers
out of the party, or at most merely
tolerate them" We answer, mo,
that is not our intention" But if it
were, what difference2 The work
ers are strong enough and numerous
enough. However, we merely ask
that the middle class and the capt.
alist class understand the historic
mission of the working class and
not hinder that class in its work.
We say, show the workers their
class interests.
They say, appeal to all classes.
We say, expend your efforts
where they will accomplish the
greatest results.
They say, one middle class man
is worth ten wage workers.
We say, the working class must
emancipate the world.
They say, get the middle class
and the workers will follow like
sheep.
Marx says: THE lowe, middle
class, the small manufacturer, the
shopkeeper, the artisan, the peasant,
all these fight against the bourgeoi-
sic. to save from extinction their
existence as fractions of the middle
class They are therefore not rev.
oiutionary, but conservative. Nay,
more, they are reactionary, for they
try to roll back the wheels of his
tory" Have we the time to spend
on their education when so many of
the working class are waiting1 The
opportunist would appeal rather to
this class than to the working class.
1t is that tendency which we are
fighting, and it is that tendency
which we must conquer or the So