The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1913-11-13
DO YOU REALLY WANT so
CTALISM.
BY John NJ Work

I
so that we can point TO any specific
date ms the time when the new order
was born
agree with that statement
But. II is also true that there will
come a time when We will win gen
eral election and capture the powers
of the national government.
THAT day will be the beginning of
the end of the great struggle for So
ciallsm. That day will be the begin
ming of the end Of exploitation, pow
erty. and all the social ills that blight
the lives of the great host whose
hearts are YEARLY longing for the
strife to ccasea
When will that day come?
It will come whenever the Social
lists want 1t to come. We can have
Socialism whenever the Socialists
really want Socialism.
A minority of the Socialists are
exceedingly active. Their work for
the cause is all that could be desired
or expected.
But there are thousands upon thou
sands of people who vote the Social
list ticket, and yet who never turn
hand over to get Socialism except by
that one act THAT act is very com
mendable in itself, but, instead of be-
ing the sole act performed for the
cause, it should be the elimination
of many activities Maybe these peo-
pie want Socialism, but they certain
ly do not act like it.
In order to get Socialism, it is nee
essary to convince majority OF the
people that we ought to have it-so
that they too will vote the ticket
There is no way to this except
through close, compact, thorough, eff
ficient organization.
We must fight systematically not
chaotically.
We must fire broadsldes, not pop
guns.
We must meet the powerful organi-
cation of the enemy with an organiza-
| ton still more powerful.
Ten million unorganized Socialists
would have no terrors for the capita,
list class.
But, half a million organized So
cialists, carrying on systematic per
/ sistent, courageous, mcthodical pro
: paganda, can turn the United States
not upside down, but right side up
J scare the plpfhs into spasms, carry
. the election, and introduce Socialism
: You are not a good Socialist unless
/. you are a member of the Socialist
: party organization.
Y You are not good Socialist unless
2 you hustle for Socialism.
5 A Socialist who is not member OF
2 the party organization is exploiting
t his own brother Socialists, because
Y he is making them perform the duties
3 he ought to perform.
I We are already beginning to be
= called upon to step in and take charge
: of the immediate work of making the
} transition from capitalism to Social
: ISM In many localities, this respon
sibility has already been placed upon
+ u.s.
Yet, many alleged Socialists still
neglect duty, though these successes
, make it vastly easier than hitherto
to build a powerful organization and
to reach the minds of the people.
Joining the party organization and
paying dues promptly is the first duty
of every Socialist. No other work you
can do for the cause will have such
a telling and far reaching effect.
Having Joined, be member-a real
member-not dead one,
Every member of the Socialist
party is an integral part of the move
ment.
Every member should be active.
Every member should be thorough
ly posted, not only on the principles,
but also on the tactics and current
events of the movement, so that the
organization will at all times be able
to act with both wisdom and eXpedi-
ton on every question that arises.
This insures the maintenance of a
rank and file movement.
Both a thorough and efficient or
ganization and rank and file move
ment are indispensable in the Social
list party
We do not want members to be like
the man who pasted a copy of the
Lords Prayer on the wall of his bed
room and every night when he was
ready to jump into bed jerked his
thumb at it and said, "oh, Lord,
them's my sentiments"
We do not want any half-hearted .
devotion.
We want every member to be ear
nest, sincere. aggressive, persistent,