The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1916-03-16
Our Preparedness
BY Fred S. Faulkner

! Amidst the cloud of words and
print lowering around the subject of
preparedness, one thing stands out
very clearly That is: Socialist IN.
preparedness. We of the Socialist
movement of America are as utterly
| unprepared to face the issue as were
our stampeded comrades in Europe
Having seen the division of npinion
among leading lights in this country.
and the lack of any program for ac-
ton, one is justified in voicing this
statement The 1ate comrade" Rms
sell is utterly corrupted by the CAPT.
talist scare, and may be counted ont
by us. Another word singer. Benson
IS OF nature that would bear watch
ing. Note his divergent ideas in the
Appear and "Pearson's" Magazine.
He evidently still thinks the plot of
earth that held our last Job is worth
defending. And not a few of the
great ones Of the party are awaiting
a cue from the A. F. of L. machine
as to how far they can go, in opposing
capitalist Vaccinations, and yet we
are told the Socialists are the pio-
neers of progress. Very well, let us
give the lead Comrade Debs in the
December 18th issue of the appeal"
puts forward the only stand for the
reYolutionists to take, at the present
time Unflagging opposition to all
preparedness to defend our slavery,
and our last energy for our freedom.
The present system can give us
nothing worth fighting for. Society
today holds nothing for us. We are
its victims-not its members. 1t is
too rotten to preserve.
Our task is to prepare to destroy it,
and that must be attempted in no un.
certain way Let the half-baked sen.
umentallsts go to the Ford-Bryaa
camp. We don 'tneed them, as they
are source of weakness to us
There would be enough of red-blooded
comrades left to act as ushers for the
advancing proletariat.
And their principle task for the
present would be to absorb knowl-
edge Of past historical events. and
learn from them what course we
might expect our detestable rulers to
take in crisis. For we are approach
ing catastrophe at rapid rate, and
the movement will be spit, as the
European movement was.
No mere rousing of sentiment will
avail, not even if the Appeal circula-
ton reached 100000; no mere talk
of revolving, empty-handed, against
the government forces is going to aid
us.
Dietzgen rightly put it: a senti-
ment of indignation against unjust
conditions, is not enough: the work
ers must have access to the armory
of intellect"
And there is at least one line of
action we can take now, in spite of
the general deadly apathy in the
labor world
Let the revolutionists in this coun-
try get together, at least we can do
that, better it is to unite now, than
try TO do so when we are being hunt
ed down like dogs, as may yet be the
case, for no ruling class is afraid to
butcher its slaves.
Let this suggestion as an advance
step in preparedness be put before
every local by its rebellious members.
Support the Unity Referendum" by
Scandinavian Branch No 4. Rockford,
Ill Don't wait, as you did last year,
for the other locals to do it, but get
yours to second the motion, the reac-
tionists in power do not want to see
it pass Washington claims to be
red state, so do your duty, and get so
much prepared at least. Do it now.
Send your motions in at once.
Finally, it should be the motto of
every Socialist, if we are put to the
final test, to say; 1T is better to die
fighting for what we want than die
for the enemy class" There are times
when it is better to die than live. and
that would be such a one.
Prepare We the way of the working
class and make that path straight.
ROcpda1a Wash