I.
Workingmen and Workingwomen:
THERE is probably no name in the labor movement today, yes and in the scientific world, which is more revered and idolized than that of the founder of scientific Socialism: Karl Marx. In the proletarian movement the name of Marx has become a synonym for scientific soundness and irrefutable accuracy on the one hand, and also a cloak with which to cover and label the most spurious intellectual wares on the other. In scientific circles practically the same conditions prevail, only with the gratifying exception that here the distorters and corrupters of Marx: the Mallocks, Boehm-Bawerks, Skeltons and Simkhovitches, quickly meet their Waterloo at the hands of a competent Marxian, and are thus prevented from accomplishing any further confusion and material harm. As implied above, in the labor movement or Socialist movement proper the task is not so simple, yes a great deal more difficult, and the reason for this peculiarity is to be found in the astonishing ignorance prevalent amongst so-called Marxian Socialists on matters Marxian; furthermore in the fact that the corrupter and distorter of Marx in this case generally carries on his work, knowingly or unknowingly matters little, in the name of Socialist propaganda or under the cover of Marxism.
With so many of his great predecessors, Karl Marx, in the course of years and through the highly scientific character of his works, has been gradually elevated to the position of an infallible demi-god by veritable legions of adherents. Thousands, yes hundreds of thousands of sincere and well meaning Socialists never tire of acclaiming their allegiance to the teachings of this great economist, but—and this is a most regrettable truth—very rarely will the inquisitive seeker find a disciple amongst these
