The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1917-03-29
DOESN'T LIKE IT

Our friend Reynolds does not like
our idea of "jollying the workers in
order to gain their confidence and bat
ter down the prejudice against Soc
ialism. thus opening the way to clear
understanding of socialism. In nine
cases out of ten prejudice is the bull
wark that we run up against in our
endeavorS to teach Socialism, and we
claim that if that prejudice can be
removed by working for the legislation
uppermost in their minds, that we will
get along much better with our mes
sage of emancipation. We have gain
ed the ear of millions by our anti
war propaganda, but those millions
are not with us when it comes to
abolishing the causes that make for
war We have heard time and time
again people saying "some of the
things that Socialists advocate are al
right" yet we Socialists know that
there is practically only one thing
that we advocate-the collective own
ership of the means of wealth produc-
tion.
Now what are "some Of the things"
that our neighbors talk aboutG They
are the pieces of legislation that we
often talk about and write about when
delivering our message, That legisla-
ton is connected with such things as
child labor, eight hour days, minimum
wage scales, initiative and referendum,
universal suffrage. abohshing the SUI
preme court, factory legislation and
so on.
We have monkeyed with these
things since the inauguration of the
Socialist party but we have failed 10
line up on demands that seem to more
directly interest certain groups of So
ciety. We are of the opinion that we
have pursued the right course so far
and now that we have fairly good
organization and plenty of well post
ed members we think it an opportuno
time to take the bull by the horns and
go the limit If we can control our
organization-and we are of the opin-
ion that we can-then we have nothing
to lose by getting Socialists into office
on the promise to put through the leg
islation that is of more immediate con
Germ to the masses. There is one thing
sure, and that is, that we would not
legislate in the interest of the exploit.
ers, and that is where we would gair
a great many adherents and open the
way for a more complete understand
ing of the principals of the league K
which our friend Reynolds belongs.
Our friend Reynolds may be Just
as prejudiced against the unionist.
and grangers as some of them are
against Socialism, and that is just
where he falls down for he does moi
realize the strenuous efforts these
people are making to get certain
pieces of legislation enacted and which
the powers that be refuse to enact. We
will ask our friend Reynolds if the
legislation wanted by these bodies
would be detrimental to the Socialist
movement if put through by Socialists
and in what way?
He says he cannot accept our state.
ment that zone single term in office
will offset that prejudice and ignor-
ance" and then he tries to introduce
facts to prove that it is not so. But
the very facts that he introduces are
in our favor. You will notice, how
ever, that he cites places where fac
tional fights have occurred, or where
some disrupting force has been at
work. Butte was disrupted by the
scrap between the /. w. W. and the
Western Federation Of Miners. Lunn
Of Schnectady, disrupted the ranks
but the Socialists are today as strong
as ever with Steinmetz at the helm
Milwaukee has knocked the capitalist
parties out for keeps. AT the primary
school election held week ago all the
five candidates Of the Socialist party
got on the final ballot with two Of the
candidates topping the polls The
Socialists expect to elect their men
and, with the three already on The
school board, will have control Of the
school board Of that city SO appar-