The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1913-09-25
SOME PERTINENT CUES
TIoNS ANSWERED.

A near-Socialist farmer has writ
ten an interesting letter to the
editor of the COMMONWEALTH, in
which he gives his experience on
the occasion of his first visit to a
Socialist local. which he thought he
might possibly wish to join, having
already voted the full Socialist ticket.
He did not join. As result of that
first visit to a Socialist local, the
near-Soeialist farmer found himself
in a condition of mind expressed by
the phrase, confusion worse con-
founded"
So he has asked for an answer to
the following six questions:
1) Is the 1. w. w. a Socialist
organization or not?
(2) Is the l. w. w. in any sense
a revolutionary organization?
(S) Do Socialist clubs have any
right to admit members of the l. w.
w. to membership in the Socialist
party?
ca Is the A F. of L. Socialist
organization or not?
(5) Is the A. F. of L. in any sense
a revolutionary organization?
(6) If the Socialist movement is,
as some claim, based on the class
struggle how can farmer like my
self consistently belong to it, and
fraternize with the I. w. W., which
I feel quite sure intends to try and
abolish all wage work. They told me
right to my face that they were 60
ing to put the little farmer out of
business, as we'll as the big trust. l
will watch your paper for an answer
to these questions for I am anxious,
and there are lot more in the same
fix.
Questions:
ID Is the l. w. w. Socialist
organization or not?
Answer. The Socialist party is a
political organization, having for its
objective the overthrow of the
capitalist system, and the abolition OF
wage slavery, along with rent, in
terest, and profit. This can only be
accomplished through collective own
ership and democratic management
of the land and machinery used or
operated collectively but individually
owned. Socialism contemplates the
production of commodities for USE,
rather than for PROFITS. The So
cialist party regards the ballot and
political organization along class
lines as a necessary method OF
abolishing trading class rule and IN
augurating the cooperative common
wealth. A corresponding solidarity
of all wage-slaves on the economic
field. organized in class-consclous
industrial unions, is recognized by all
intelligent Socialists as equally neces-
sary to the emancipation OF the
working class from wage-slavery. The
two organizations have the same END
in view. but pursue different methods
of obtaining the desired result. One
organization cannot take the place
of the other. Each body of workers
has it's own special work to do IN lts
own field, in it's own way; but mem
bers of the 1. w. w should, to DC
consistent and effective, supplement
+beir fight on the Industrial battle
field. by a corresponding fight IN th'
nolitical arena. Many of them recog
MIXING this to be the truth, belong also
to the Socialist party, as they shoulu
Nevertheless, since the |. w. w. Il
strictly an industrial organization
and not a political party, it is no
proper to class it as a SOCIALIST OF
ganization. Many members of thu
l. w. w. are opposed to political &C
tion: hence are syndicalsts' o
anarchists
Question:
(2) Is the I. w. w. in any sense
revolutionary organization?
Answer Yes, in that it demand
for the workers the full social yalu
of their labor-power, which does ava
with unpaid labor, or profits rem
and interest, all of which are merel
different forms of unpaid lapoi
power. To abolish unpaid labor is I
abolish profits, the RAISON d. EIEl
of the capitalist system.
go Question: Do Socialists cluo
have any right TO admit members
the l. w. w. to membership in tn
Socialist party?
Answer. Yes, if they declare theI
belief in the need of the ballot as
useful weapon in the class struggle.
m Is the A. f. Of l.. a soeiali'
organization or not?
Answer. No; it is merely A so'
of labor trust. designed TO corner Oh
Jobs for those who are forIona'