The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-10-02

cliliC anu pOllClCdl oupAS IlioSy VI SiiS
ruling class enabled it to use
against the working class.
If it were not for the widespread
use Of just such weapons by the i'm
perialist war-mongers of today who
are at this moment preparing new
hutcheries of the working class, en-
deavoring once again, on the field
Of Mars, to bring about redivision
Of the world between the conflict
ing powers, such people as Harold
j. Laski would be out of jobs. To
contend that Marxists of the past
were less aware of such weapons
against the working class than the
revolutionists of today is to display
flippsnt disregard of the facts.
But, while fully recognizing all
factors involved, Marxists also en-
phatically assert and prove that, in
the last analysis, change in the
mode of wealth production and dis
tribution must inevitably produce a
corresponding change in the entire
superstructure of society.
The Mechanism of Change.
This brings US to the next stu
pidity of Professor Laski-to his
assertion that Marx held that ''the
primary mechanism of change is the
system of production which OBJ
tains"
The development of the produc-
tive forces to a point where they
come into conflict with the existing
relations of society-with the in
situations held in the hands of the
ruling class for the purpose of keep
ing the oppressed class in subjec-
tion-places revolution on the order
of the day. Whenever the economic
forces develop to point where the
old forms of social organization be-
come fetter upon production they
are burst asunder, but certainly not
by the mechanism of the system of
production. Such an absurd notion
could only originate in mind of
an intellectual scavenger of the
calibre of Laski.
Society, through the development
of its contradictions, furnishes the
environment-the field for strug-
gles-in which the revolution de-
velops. But today, under modern
capitalism, it is the proletariat that
is the motivating force. Marx en-
phasized repeatedly that it is the
historic mission of the proletariat
to become the grave diggers of CAPT.
talism.
Annihilating Straw Men.
Thus, Lasky, like the avowed de-
fender of capitalism, Professor Car.
yer, with whom l dealt yesterday
erects straw man labelled MARX
ism" and then proceeds to demolisf
it. Like a typical vacillating liberia
; and fabian socialist he conceals hi.
subservience to, the capitalist elias!
under exalted sentiments and pre-
, tends to respect that which he. de
: flames. In that attitude he is les.
honest than Professor Carver.
But the true purpose of Laski'.
contribution is revealed when HI
launches into an assault upon tn,
mightiest of all historical vindica
tons in action of Marxism, the Boil
shevik revolution in the domain O.
the former cars of Russia.
Like a miserable theologian WHIT
breaches pacifism to the workers 81
they will be at the mercy of theil
assassins, Laski assails the Bolshe
vik revolution because it uses stat,
power to maintain the rule of tn,
working class and defend it agains
the imperialist hordes who are con
stantly plotting to launch new at
q tempts to destroy it. First he trie
to brighten us with prospects of tn,
f humiliation of what he calls civil
: ization.