The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1917-02-08
OPEN FORUM
THE WHY AND WHEREFOR
Bellingham, Wash.

Bellingham, Wash.
Editor Northwest Worker:
Dear Comrade;--
Seeing some article in the North
west Worker in regard to what Is The
matter with the Socialist Party, |
nm going to add my little mite. In
he first place we have all been raised
and educated under n capitalist en-
yironment, and the great majority of
Us have only very thin layer of So
,'alism ON top of several thick layers
ot Capitalism and when pushed too
hard in an argument we forget our
Socialism and become Disguised and
quit at least part of our activities.
How often have we heard this remark
81 wont stand for that insult" and /
have heard some even 90 so far as to
invite their opponents out in the alley.
Now intelligence cannot be insulted
and the person who is afraid of OPP
position to their plans, whether of
benefit or not, will have to try and
get a little thicker layer of Socialism.
Organization is the key note of sue
cess and God knows we have preached
that in season and out of season. But
organization must have foundation.
Now if have read my MARKHAM brand
of Socialism right, organization must
be based upon the following: The
Economic Interpretation of history.
The Glass Struggle and Surplus Value.
| fail to find in any of Marks works
where we should carry on a campaign
every two or four years as the case
may be for votes and wish to emphati-
cally say that consider that we have
always had too many votes. | notice
where some Comrade has stated that
all of our candidates should be able
to take the platform and make a good
talk on the issues of the day. That
would be a good idea if we were all
agreed upon what was a good talk.
But today it is safe to say that not
one in a dozen that hears our speakers
when asked to explain in detail the
talk would be able to say more than
it was a good talk or he was too d
'adical. No we have got to get next
to our shopmates where we work and
explain to them and tell them not
only to vote for Socialism but to build
up an organization that can take a
stand upon any question that con-
fronts US and be able to hold their
own at any time. There is one thing
sure if the Socialist Party ever amount
to anything the working class has got
to wake up pretty soon and get in
the Party and change that fading
yellow to the real red. There was
more literature last fall than ever
before, more money spent and more
real need of thought along class lines
han ever before and yet our organ
ization has not prospered as it should.
It looks very much to me as though
he slaves had not been starved
-nough and yet in our press we hail
With rejoicing every advancement that
1 reform movement attempts. Now
maintain that any advancement that
is given by the FLUTES is to their ad-
vantage and if the Socialist Party
want to function it must point out to
he wage slaves not the need of vot-
ng the Socialist Party so much as
organizing where they work so they
IAN control more of their product and
finally the whole Social value of our
oil and always remember that there
but one working class hence can be
out one union.
F. A. BICKFORD
26O3 Wabash ST., Bellngham, Wash.