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issue is the immemorial one；an effort of the producers to obtain
an increasing measure of the wealth that flows from their
production。〃
Mr。 Henry White； secretary of the United Garment Workers of America
and a member of the Industrial Committee of the National Civic
Federation； speaking of the National Civic Federation soon after its
inception； said： 〃To fall into one another's arms； to avow
friendship； to express regret at the injury which has been done；
would not alter the facts of the situation。 Workingmen will
continue to demand more pay； and the employer will naturally oppose
them。 The readiness and ability of the workmen to fight will； as
usual； largely determine the amount of their wages or their share in
the product。 。 。 But when it comes to dividing the proceeds； there
is the rub。 We can also agree that the larger the product through
the employment of labor…saving methods the better； as there will be
more to be divided； but again the question of the division。 。 。 。 A
Conciliation Committee； having the confidence of the community； and
composed of men possessing practical knowledge of industrial
affairs； can therefore aid in mitigating this antagonism； in
preventing avoidable conflicts； in bringing about a TRUCE； I use the
word 'truce' because understandings can only be temporary。〃
Here is a man who might have owned cattle on a thousand hills； been
a lumber baron or a railroad king； had he been born a few years
sooner。 As it is； he remains in his class； is secretary of the
United Garment Workers of America； and is so thoroughly saturated
with the class struggle that he speaks of the dispute between
capital and labor in terms of war；workmen FIGHT with employers； it
is possible to avoid some CONFLICTS； in certain cases TRUCES may be；
for the time being； effected。
Man being man and a great deal short of the angels； the quarrel over
the division of the joint product is irreconcilable。 For the last
twenty years in the United States； there has been an average of over
a thousand strikes per year； and year by year these strikes increase
in magnitude； and the front of the labor army grows more imposing。
And it is a class struggle； pure and simple。 Labor as a class is
fighting with capital as a class。
Workingmen will continue to demand more pay； and employers will
continue to oppose them。 This is the key…note to LAISSEZ FAIRE；
everybody for himself and devil take the hindmost。 It is upon this
that the rampant individualist bases his individualism。 It is the
let…alone policy； the struggle for existence； which strengthens the
strong； destroys the weak； and makes a finer and more capable breed
of men。 But the individual has passed away and the group has come；
for better or worse； and the struggle has become； not a struggle
between individuals； but a struggle between groups。 So the query
rises： Has the individualist never speculated upon the labor group
becoming strong enough to destroy the capitalist group； and take to
itself and run for itself the machinery of industry？ And； further；
has the individualist never speculated upon this being still a
triumphant expression of individualism；of group individualism；if
the confusion of terms may be permitted？
But the facts of the class struggle are deeper and more significant
than have so far been presented。 A million or so of workmen may
organize for the pursuit of interests which engender class
antagonism and strife； and at the same time be unconscious of what
is engendered。 But when a million or so of workmen show
unmistakable signs of being conscious of their class；of being； in
short； class conscious；then the situation grows serious。 The
uncompromising and terrible hatred of the trade…unionist for a scab
is the hatred of a class for a traitor to that class；while the
hatred of a trade…unionist for the militia is the hatred of a class
for a weapon wielded by the class with which it is fighting。 No
workman can be true to his class and at the same time be a member of
the militia： this is the dictum of the labor leaders。
In the town of the writer； the good citizens； when they get up a
Fourth of July parade and invite the labor unions to participate；
are informed by the unions that they will not march in the parade if
the militia marches。 Article 8 of the constitution of the Painters'
and Decorators' Union of Schenectady provides that a member must not
be a 〃militiaman； special police officer； or deputy marshal in the
employ of corporations or individuals during strikes； lockouts； or
other labor difficulties； and any member occupying any of the above
positions will be debarred from membership。〃 Mr。 William Potter was
a member of this union and a member of the National Guard。 As a
result； because he obeyed the order of the Governor when his company
was ordered out to suppress rioting； he was expelled from his union。
Also his union demanded his employers； Shafer & Barry； to discharge
him from their service。 This they complied with； rather than face
the threatened strike。
Mr。 Robert L。 Walker； first lieutenant of the Light Guards； a New
Haven militia company； recently resigned。 His reason was； that he
was a member of the Car Builders' Union； and that the two
organizations were antagonistic to each other。 During a New Orleans
street…car strike not long ago； a whole company of militia； called
out to protect non…union men； resigned in a body。 Mr。 John
Mulholland； president of the International Association of Allied
Metal Mechanics； has stated that he does not want the members to
join the militia。 The Local Trades' Assembly of Syracuse； New York；
has passed a resolution； by unanimous vote； requiring union men who
are members of the National Guard to resign； under pain of
expulsion； from the unions。 The Amalgamated Sheet Metal Workers'
Association has incorporated in its constitution an amendment
excluding from membership in its organization 〃any person a member
of the regular army； or of the State militia or naval reserve。〃 The
Illinois State Federation of Labor； at a recent convention； passed
without a dissenting vote a resolution declaring that membership in
military organizations is a violation of labor union obligations；
and requesting all union men to withdraw from the militia。 The
president of the Federation； Mr。 Albert Young； declared that the
militia was a menace not only to unions； but to all workers
throughout the country。
These instances may be multiplied a thousand fold。 The union
workmen are becoming conscious of their class； and of the struggle
their class is waging with the capitalist class。 To be a member of
the militia is to be a traitor to the union； for the militia is a
weapon wielded by the employers to crush the workers in the struggle
between the warring groups。
Another interesting； and even more pregnant； phase of the class
struggle is the political aspect of it as displayed by the
socialists。 Five men； standing together； may perform prodigies； 500
men； marching as marched the historic Five Hundred of Marseilles；
may sack a palace and destroy a king； while 500；000 men；
passionately preaching the propaganda of a class struggle； waging a
class struggle along political lines； and backed by the moral and
intellectual support of 10；000；000 more men of like convictions
throughout the world； may come pretty close to realizing a class
struggle in these United States of ours。
In 1900 these men cast 150；000 votes； two years later； in 1902； they
cast 300；000 votes； and in 1904 they cast 450；000。 They have behind
them a most imposing philosophic and scientific literature； they own
illustrated magazines and reviews； high in quality； dignity； and
restraint； they possess countless daily and weekly papers which
circulate throughout the land； and single papers which have
subscribers by the hundreds of thousands； and they literally swamp
the working classes in a vast sea of tracts and pamphlets。 No
political party in the United States； no church organization nor
mission effort； has as indefatigable workers as has the socialist
party。 They multiply themselves； know of no effort nor sacrifice
too great to make for the Cause； and 〃Cause；〃 with them； is spelled
out in capitals。 They work for it with a religious zeal； and would
die for it with a willingness similar to that of the Christian
martyrs。
These men are preaching an uncompromising and deadly class struggle。
In fact； they are organized upon the basis of a class struggle。
〃The history of society；〃 they say； 〃is a history of class
struggles。 Patrician struggled with plebeian in early Rome； the
king and the burghers； with the nobles in the Middle Ages； later on；
the king and the nobles with the bourgeoisie； and today the struggle
is on between the triumphant bourgeoisie and the rising proletariat。
By 'proletariat' is meant the class of people without capital which