The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1917-02-15
WHY THE SOCIALIST
VOTE FELL OFF

utlJly IdlI SplflJ HI tlo tuiJoi lhl
"Claims Made for the Nonpartisan
Law.
Some Socialists are too rambunc-
tuous.
They would rather differ than agree
would rather find an objection than
ground for praise.
The editorial proposes calm and
fair consideration of the "other fell
lows" point of view.
am just class-conscious enough
to refuse to quarrel with any pro
Queer. get all the quarrelling need
by attacking the parasites. Just now
| am out of the party, and perhaps
the reason why dropped out may
apply to many others.
Here in Whatcom county we had nc
candidate for judge. Judge Pember-
ton was up for reelection. I do not
know that Judge Pemberton calls him
self Socialist; but he is strongly in
favor of abolishing all unearned in
comes; of making service the only
ground for claiming service; favors
public ownership so far as it may be
necessary to abolish unearned In
comes.
I have read everything I have been
able to get Of Marx writings, and so
far as / now remember Enough pub
lie ownership to abolish unearned in
comes" is about all Marx taught.
AS I could not vote for Judge Penn
berton and remain In the Party,
asked the Local to drop my name. Of
course others will blame me for my
stand; but I am interested in the act
ual application of justice more than
in = mere party rule.
This brings me to what I want TO
emphasize
The Party rule as to "Party Trea-
son" is the chief obstacle to Party
growth.
l am perfectly willing for those
who wish such rule to urge party
members to "vote 'er straight"
/ always want to be governed by
the majority in matters Of detail
though in matters of prime Importance
l always Ego it alone" and on what
seems the wise thing to me, even when
the majority is against me.
Personally l do not like the "vote
'er straight" idea at all; never did
like it, and probably never will. But
/ am quite willing to let every mem
Der of the party ADVOCATE his
way.
On the other hand I am opposed to
any grounds Of expulsion from the
party. Let people expel themselves,
if they wish; but let's have done
with heresy trials:
Are we modern popes, that we try
to "excommunicate" those who do
not do as we think best?
If we can convince our brothers,
we'll and good; but let's quit heresy
hunting!
Your plea for lapsed members to
come back will avail nothing until
the Party quits heresy hunting.
Let the editor have his say: Pos
sibly, being an elective official, we
may recall him if he gets too far
from the Orthodox" path; but let's
repeal all rules for communicating
members from the Party.
PARTY treason" rules are at best
mere tactics" and have no necessary
connection with Socialism.
The trouble with majority vote"
under present circumstances, is that
not one Socialist in hundred is in
the Party. Practically every wage
worker or farmer, and multitudes of
merchants and manufacturers will
agree to Marx ideal
Enough public ownership to abol-
ish unearned incomes"
Marx enumerates (Manifesto):-
l. Public ownership of land;
2. Public banking;
3. Public transportation;
A. Public communication;
5. Public reclamation;
6. Public schools; and
Whatever else is needed.
That is enough to begin on. When
we have got that far we will know
whether we want to go farther.
We mean to abolish all unearned
incomes; to make the giving of human
service the only ground for demand
ing human service.
Probably three fifths of the voters
of the United States would subscribe
to this platform-yet a mere handful
voted the Socialist Party ticket.
Not only was the number small;
but it decreased, when it should have
increased.
Hughes was impossible; Wilson has
done nothing to show his apprecia-
ton of any fundamental economic
truth.