The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1915-08-12
FORWARD TO MARX


rect2 Are there social-economic classes
and are these classes more or less con.
economic position and powers? Must
cIass-consciousness necessarily play in
a cIass-divided society as society is to.
day? Are the sociaI-economic struc-
ture and the social-economic needs. in.
terests and powers of the social classes
are not these the main-springs (mind
you, not the only, but the main forces)
that operate to determine social events
and changes and even to shape to a
great extent social and class psychoI-
ogy? And | want to know particularly
just exactly what 1t is in the work of
Marx that has been positively mis-.
leading and mischievous to the Social
list movement"
If sociological science leads Com
rade Melvin and others to "appraise''
Marks works as accidental" then so.
Geological science and its appraisers
have yet to learn the great funda-
mental MARKHAM principle that work
like Marks was a necessary historical
and social product and not the mere
speculations of an individual brain.
Marx was more than pioneer; he was
necessarily in advance of his time, al.
though its product. He built so far in
advance that 1t has taken sociology
half a century to reach stage where
1t could begin at all to appreciate the
important conclusions of his work
And while every sane socialist will
cheerfully acknowledge that Ward and
other modern sociologists have done
excellent work, and have even ap-
preached very closely the Socialist
position, still this proves all the more
conclusively the soundness of the
MARKHAM position rather than the need
for its revision or rejection.
Let us continue to value modern
science and modern sociology, but let
us seek the theoretical basis of our
movement in a more MARKHAM inter.
probation of social phenomena. And,
although it may be found worth while
to "appraise" Socialism and the Marx
ian theories from the Christian, or
pragmatic or sociologic, or other
standpoint, nevertheless it is equally
worth while-nay, it is imperative-to
appraise these very standpoints in the
| light of the MARKHAM theory. What Is
sauce for the goose is sauce for the
gander.
It is an open secret that many a
member in our party is psychoIogicaIIy
but combination Of bourgeois mental
ity and Socialist sentimentaIity, with
or without a dash of responsibility to
taste. This type of Socialist is strong
for Socialism, any kind of Socialism
modernized, spiritualized, pragmatized,
sociological, Christianized, sterilized
and anesthetized-any kind except
MARKHAM "proletarianized." You see.
this MARKHAM kind is coarse and vul-
gah, doncherknow! 1t wallows in the
mire of material" things, and chat
ters about Glasses" and it's unattrac-
tive, and isn't shaved, and wears the
whiskers of the past generation.
There is now greater need than
ever before for a more general educa-
I ton in MARKHAM Socialism. The slogan
of Back to Marx" raised recently in
some quarters, is healthy sign, ex-
cept that it should be Forward to
Marx" 1t is not Marx who is the
back number; it is the general men,
bership that is backward in their
knowledge of MARKHAM Socialism.
We charge our comrades Of the war;
ring nations with abandonment in
practice of their position in theory.
Shall we Of America abandon even the
MARKHAM theoretical position?