The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1916-01-27
Not Satisfactory

We are Dragging in this issue OF
The Northwest Worker about the IN
crease of membership in the Social
list party OF Washington, while so
many other states show a decrease.
We have Just cause for feeling graft
fled to find that we have gained more
party members during the past year
than any other state in the Union.
And II is a source of satisfaction to
find that in proportion 70 our total
population we stand second in the
Union in point of number of dues
having Socialists. Only Oklahoma
stands between us and the leadership
in this way also. 1t shows the result
of persistent, systematic propaganda
and organization work. For this we
must thank many comrades whose
names are never seen in print but
whose heroic efforts in behalf of So
cialism are none the less appreciated
by all of us. These hundreds OF great
souls, nobly and patiently and unos-
tentatiously hammering away at the
citadels of capitalism, are the real
force behind the Socialist movement
All honor and affection to and for
these tireless soldiers of the common
Cause!
And may we not offer a word of
credit here to the tireless energy and
boundless optimism of our retiring
state secretary, Comrade l.. E. Katter'
field? However we may differ from
him on this point or that, we only do
this comrade justice when we say
that we do not believe that Washing
ton would today stand at the head
of the column for increase of member
ship had it not been for the bold in
itiative and ceaseless efforts of the
live-wire in the state office. We can
wish this state no better luck than
that its membership should have the
wisdom to elect for Katterfeld's sue
cessor a comrade capable of the same
abundant energy and initiative.
Nodesty alone prevents us from
naming as a very helpful factor in
giving to Washington it's high emf
nence as Red state it's little old Ev-
erett paper, now about to celebrate
it's sixth birthday. We must confess,
though, that we believe that this
paper has done it's share in keeping
the Washington movement in the
straight and narrow way, and in slim
ulating the membership to greater
and more determined efforts.
But here's the unsatisfactory part
of the Jubilee" that is to be:
The comrades of this state have
not, as an organization, nor even as
individuals, all told, done their full
duty by the paper. 1t has merited
more moral and financial support
than has been accorded it. No mat
ter what fault Tom, Dick, or Harry
may find with The Northwest Work
er,-no paper ever pleased everybody
it is now, and has for a long time
been, a better paper than anybody
paid for A few individuals have, Of
course, paid more than their just
share of the expense of running the
paper. They have their reward. But
the party as a whole has shirked it's
duty. It has let George do it, 1t is
still letting George do it. Our call
for contributions to wipe out the very
small deficit for the past years work
has not met with the response that
was reasonably hoped for. Somebody
is sinking After all due allowance
is made for the comrades who are out
of work, or too poor to help, there
still remain any number Of party
members who are well able to give
something to the support of the paper
besides their one dollar for a years
subscription, but who are too indif
ferent to lend hand. If you, reader,
are one of these, don't try to dodge
the issue by fault-finding, but look
yourself in the face and then ask
yourself if it isn't time to come
across" Then come"