The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1914-12-31
THE CLASS STRUGGLE AND
SOCIALISM

"a movement represents the inter-
ests OF class" says Vail, when 1t
makes for the perpetuity of that
class"
AS the Socialist movement has been
launched for the especial purpose OF
perpetuating the working class as the
one necessary class, as the one class
whose development is in line with so
cial progress and the moral demands
of the more intelligent workers, II is
essentially a proletarian movement,
wage-worker's organization. The So
cialist movement is therefore openly
opposed to the economic interests and
the perpetuity of the capitalist class
as such.
"While Socialism does not, and can
not. represent the class interests of
every member of society,"" observes
Vail, in his splendid little 10c pamph-
let, The Socialist Movement, 1T
nevertheless represents the higher
and truer individual interest of every
member OF society, for Socialism
would realize a nobler civilization.
But the members of the proprietary
class are so blinded by prejudice and
class interests that they are unable to
see what would make for higher So
ciai order and nobIer humanity.
Thus while Socialism stands for the
higher interests of all as human be-
ings, as members Of society, 1t does
not represent the class interests OF
the capitalists, for their class interests
signify such policies as make for the
continuance of their class. Socialism
would abolish the capitalist class and
turn all mere owners into useful pro-
ducers. But when we turn to the la
borer we find that Socialism repre-
sents not only his personal interest
but also his class interest, for the
class interest Of the laborer is in ac-
cord with social progress"
WHY PREVIOUS REVOLUTIONS
FAILED TO ABOLISH CLASSES
AND RULERS
Many persons declare that il the
Socialists should get into power, poll
tically and industrially, it would not
be long before certain men would
once more have gobbled up all the
earth's resources and cornered all the
wealth again, as now.
This is a mistake due to the unin-
formed leaving out of consideration
the method by which one class gains
accendency over another. The criti-
cism fails to take into consideration
that man grows rich off of the labor
of others only by owning the means
whereby others must Lively owning
the land or machinery by use of which
others must subsist. AS Vail well
puts it, to quote again his pamphlet:
The reason why previous revo-
Iutions resulted in the continu-
ance of class dominance, is due to
the failure to abolish class owner
ship in the instruments of pro-
duction. But the proIetariat su-
premacy will result in the aboli-
ton of all dependence, because the
tools of production are now social
and the working class cannot en-
anclpate itself except by socializ-
ina these instruments. When
these instruments are owned col
Iectiveiy the cause Of dependence
and servitude will be abolished.
The abolition of private or corpor-
ate ownership, means the aboii-
ton of all class rule and all class
distinctions.
The new order, then, is not
merely an exchange of ruling
classes, society in which the
relative positions Of the two
classes have been reversed, but
rather a condition where classes
themselves will become extinct;
where the interests of one will be-
come identical with the interests
of ALL and where the interests of
all will be united in the social
interests.
The class struggle will result in
the supremacy of the working
class, but when this class Is ex-
allied to power 1t will soon lose
it's present class characteristics.
Out of tho changed conditions
new type will arise different from
all preceding types, lnasmuch ss
these are dominated by class con-
dltions. Individual character is
largely the child Of social rela-
lions and conditions, consequently
the proletariat must necessarily
bear the mark of its environment.
The establishment of healthy So
cial conditions will at once reveal !