The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1909-07-10
DOWNING" SOCIALISM.

The Wageworker has not been at all
backward about expressing its opinion
of the National Civic Federation. In
the estimation of this humble little
labor paper the Civic Federation is
little more than mere sop to work
ingmen. thrown out by men whose
every dollar was made by exploiting
labor and who are more concerned
in keeping the worker contented with
his lot than they are in improving
his condition 1t may be presumptuous
for so humble a newspaper as this to
set its judgment up against that of
great leaders like Gompers and Nit
chell. but all the same The Wage
worker thinks the Civic Federation is
grinding an ak while the wage earn
ers are dutifully turning the grind
stone.
More than ever are We inclined To
this view after reading an article in
the National Civic Federation Review
-or rather series of articles-con-
tributed by eminent union men. and
which the Review says attacks the
doctrines of socialism with telling eff
feet
Noffes OF the Bricklayers. Goldstcin
of ne C5sarmakers. Cable of the Coop
ers and Gordon of the Boot and Shoe
Workers, are the authors of the ar
ticles in question. and they have taken
the bait held out by the shrewd gentle
men who conduct the affairs OF the
Civic Federation. 1t is only another
sample of how the capitalistic bunch
always manages to set the workers at
each others threats.
The Wageworker holds no brie- for
the defense of socialism II is no.
competent TO discuss its principles Nor
explain clearly its proposed program
Perhaps the editor has studied the
question of socialism as much or
speak with authority, but II is an al
mighty big question. But whethe- so
cialism is right or wrong. whether il
is possible or impossible, whether il is
a philosophy or phantasm. this much
is sure-it is subscribed TO by hun
dreds of thousands OF wage ea.nars
whose brains are just as good as the
brains of the labor leaders whom the
lacking ii. In attacking socialism these
labor leaders have merely made an
attack upon workers as sincere as
themselves. as anxious for reform as
themselves. and as willing to make
sacrifices for industrial betterment
As long as Noffet. IGoldstein. Cable
and Gordon are devoting their time to
principles held dear by thousands OF
their fellow workers they are not max
ing much Roadway against industrial
feudalism-and that is what The Wage
worker is anxious to see done. anl
Just what the National Civic Fedora
ton does not want to see done.
We are of the opinion that the 50
cialist leaders are quite able to TAX.
care of themselves and their side o
the case in any discussion that ma.
arise. hence we make no pretense a
meeting the alleged arguments pre-
sented by the labor leaders in tn
Civic Federation Review. but Tn
Waseworker is old enough. and il
: editor has been in the union gam
long enough. to warrant il and him
| protesting against making organize
+ labor the catSpaw to pull Civic FEEDER,
r ton chestnuts out of the fire. "
I challenge the National Civic FEEDER
ton Review to give four socialis
leaders We may select equal space
its columns with Moffett, Goldstei
Cable and Gordon
The editor of The Wageworker
not a socialist, in the. generally a
cepted definition of that term. but l
has NO hesitancy in saying that |
would rather cast his lot with the S
cialists than with the men WI
engineer the National Civic FEEDER
ton. This humble editor will line
6 alongside some of the socialist lea
% ers it knows personally. includil
IDebS and Berger. in preference tn ri