The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1913-04-11
CONCLUSION Of Discussion.

When pointed out some facts
ahout the A. b. of l.. that happened
to 0t into our discussion, Comrade
Boldly accused me OF kicking up a
dust TO hide the issue" I think
stated plainly what the issue was
when / wrote Shall the workers of
the world unite and 'emancipate
! themselves, or shall the workers and
parasites unite and let the parasites,
| little or big. continue their age-long
delusion?' But without avail, for
Comrade Boldly goes in swimming
with a sea octopus to kick up his
dust" aside from the issue. We are
not going to complain about that So,
hoping to get at the issue, we will
pass that up and freely admit that we
both dabbled in side issues.
am further willing to admit, with
much satisfaction, all the comrade
claims as to the superiority of the
working class over the capitalist class
in intelligence and ability to produce
all of the good things we have, but
the following stubborn facts remain:
The working class, as a class, has
not yet developed it's ability or fitness
to function as the ruling class or to
abolish economic classes. The CAPT
talist class possesses the ability to
command the situation by means at
it's disposal or it would not now be
holding us in wage slavery as a sub
ject class. They can hold us thus by
fooling US; and as long as they can
fool us we are demonstrating our sub
serviency and class inferiority Those
of us who have become conscious of
our true position in society will not
stand for it but we are compelled to
submit until enough of our class de-
velop a backbone sufficient for US to
stand erect, as a class, and use our
intelligence and ability by other than
capitalist means, in the interests of
our own class which is the only use
full and necessary. class. But let us
get to the tissue"
Comrade Boldly states that a sea
octopus once grabbed him by the foot
and commenced sucking his blood
The sea octopus was undoubtedly a
parasite. Now, comrade, how did you
get rid of that parasite? Did you in
vite him to join you in the task of
breaking his hold on you? Did you
try to convert him SO he would DE
lieve" in letting loose of your foot?
Did you take time to give him credit
for the effort ha-Was making to keep
his hold on you? Although the water
was shallow, did you feel like trust
ing him in deeper water?
When we speak of classes we mean
class as opposed to class. There is a
dividing line where class interests be-
gin to oppose each other, indistinctly
perhaps, near the line, because the
two classes merge together along the
dividing line. One of these classes is
a parasite living off the life of the
other class. If you wish to see your
class break the hold the parasite class
has on you, do you believe you will
accomplish your task by persuading
the other class to join with you in
the effort? That is just what you
have contended and that is just what
our constitutions permit. But we can
change that.
Please do not pick out individual
cases near the border line and try to
excuse a fatal weakness that extends
on into deep water. The gate is open
to the entire parasite class and some
of the most pernicious of their kind
have passed through and have been
getting in their work There is moth
| ing to prevent more and more of it
except the class-consciousness of the
exploited workers. Lawyers are para
sites on parasites as we'll as on the
exploited workers. They thrive on
trouble. All that element known as
legal talent, soul-savers and "busi-
ness" sagacity are trained in the arts
of deception in the interests of the
parasitic capitalist class and they are
the people workers have been uniting
with to free us, and we are learning
that they are after something much
different to what we are after. Their
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