The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1915-08-26
A ROTTEN PLANK

capitalism with Socialism is because
the gentlemen who write our Nation
nj platforms are Socialist politicians
first and political Socialists after.
wards. They have their eyes focused
on the ballot-box rather than on the
class-struggle and the revolution. In
illustration, we quote the following
gem from the platform of 1912:
"The immediate requirement by the
municipalities. the states or the fed
eral government of all grain eleva-
tors. stock yards, storage warehouses
and other distributing agencies, IN
ORDER TO REDUCE THE PRESENT
EXTORTIONATE COST OF LIVING"
Real Socialists are giving their time
and energy to the movement with a
view to capturing the legislative and
police powers IN ORDER TO ABOL-
ISH WAGE SLAVERY. To this end,
we would use that power, once cap
tured from the capitalist class. to con-
fiscate all properties or agencies"
which are socially necessary to the
workers, not ito reduce the present
extortionate cost of living but to
ABOLISH WAGE SLAVERY.
Real Socialists understand that the
average wages paid the workers is
living, with occasional fluctuations up
or down, due to coincident minor
causes. Production In the cost Of liv-
ing" 10, therefore, not Socialist is
sue. Many anti-Socialists are interest
ed in reducing the cost of living. This
is strictly a middle-class issue. For
the average wage-earner reduction Sin
the present extortionate cost of liv-
ing" could result only in reduction in
what many Of the bosses are now
pleased to regard as "the present ex-
tortionate wages demanded by the
wage-earners, to the detriment OF
American industry"
Let US, az Socialists, in our plat
forms and propaganda, concentrate
our attack upon Capitalism, upon
Wage Slavery, and leave reforms to
the mere reformers. One need not be
a Socialist in order to fight for higher
wages, a shorter work day, workmen's
compensation laws, etc. These anne
by capitalist politicians, by organized
labor, Socialists and anti-Socialists
The activity of the Socialist Party, as
an organization, should be confined to
revolutionary proposals, to measures
which mere reform parties, and anti
Socialists, would not deign, nor dare,
forms. Let US keep our own issue
clear and distinct. Only by such tao
tics can confusion in the minds of
the workers be avoided, and a har-
monious revolutionary political or
ganization be developed and main
tanned.
not to be performed sin order to re-
duce the extortionate cost of living"
but in order to reduce, and finally to
abolish, exploitation Of the workers
through the wages system, through
robbery in the pay-envelope, not at
the merchants counter. The middle
in the distributing end of the capital
list game.
BY WAY OF ILLUSTRATION
The day after the above views were
written, the editorial printed below
appeared in the Everett Morning Tri
bune. We quote it here as an apt
illustration of the fact that the So
cialist Party, as an organization, is
foolishly assuming functions which
the middle-class are perfectly willing
to take upon themselves, in self-pro
lection. 1t is up to the slave-drivers
themselves to see to it that provender
is not sold at "extortionate prices,
since this necessitates higher wages
for the wage-slaves' upkeep.
(From Everett Morning Tribune)
The New York Sun, after an inves
tigation of the farm produce situation
around the metropolis, reports that
vegetables are more plentiful and
cheap than they have been for many
years, but it isn't doing the consumer
any good.
Potatoes, for example, which were
selling at $4.25 a barrel wholesale q
year ago, are now $1.00 barrel. But
retailed in small quantities, they cost
sc TO $40 a barrel. The New Jersey
producer is only getting "a cents a
barrel for them. Onions, which
brought SO bushel wholesale last
year. have been quoted at rs cents
bushel. but the housewife doesn't pay
any less. Tomatoes sell at 25 to III