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War of the Classes
by Jack London
Contents：
Preface
The Class Struggle
The Tramp
The Scab
The Question of the Maximum
A Review
Wanted： A New Land of Development
How I Became a Socialist
PREFACE
When I was a youngster I was looked upon as a weird sort of
creature； because； forsooth； I was a socialist。 Reporters from
local papers interviewed me； and the interviews； when published；
were pathological studies of a strange and abnormal specimen of man。
At that time （nine or ten years ago）； because I made a stand in my
native town for municipal ownership of public utilities； I was
branded a 〃red…shirt；〃 a 〃dynamiter；〃 and an 〃anarchist〃； and really
decent fellows； who liked me very well； drew the line at my
appearing in public with their sisters。
But the times changed。 There came a day when I heard； in my native
town； a Republican mayor publicly proclaim that 〃municipal ownership
was a fixed American policy。〃 And in that day I found myself
picking up in the world。 No longer did the pathologist study me；
while the really decent fellows did not mind in the least the
propinquity of myself and their sisters in the public eye。 My
political and sociological ideas were ascribed to the vagaries of
youth； and good…natured elderly men patronized me and told me that I
would grow up some day and become an unusually intelligent member of
the community。 Also they told me that my views were biassed by my
empty pockets； and that some day； when I had gathered to me a few
dollars； my views would be wholly different；in short； that my
views would be their views。
And then came the day when my socialism grew respectable；still a
vagary of youth； it was held； but romantically respectable。
Romance； to the bourgeois mind； was respectable because it was not
dangerous。 As a 〃red…shirt；〃 with bombs in all his pockets； I was
dangerous。 As a youth with nothing more menacing than a few
philosophical ideas； Germanic in their origin； I was an interesting
and pleasing personality。
Through all this experience I noted one thing。 It was not I that
changed； but the community。 In fact； my socialistic views grew
solider and more pronounced。 I repeat； it was the community that
changed； and to my chagrin I discovered that the community changed
to such purpose that it was not above stealing my thunder。 The
community branded me a 〃red…shirt〃 because I stood for municipal
ownership； a little later it applauded its mayor when he proclaimed
municipal ownership to be a fixed American policy。 He stole my
thunder； and the community applauded the theft。 And today the
community is able to come around and give me points on municipal
ownership。
What happened to me has been in no wise different from what has
happened to the socialist movement as a whole in the United States。
In the bourgeois mind socialism has changed from a terrible disease
to a youthful vagary； and later on had its thunder stolen by the two
old parties；socialism； like a meek and thrifty workingman； being
exploited became respectable。
Only dangerous things are abhorrent。 The thing that is not
dangerous is always respectable。 And so with socialism in the
United States。 For several years it has been very respectable；a
sweet and beautiful Utopian dream； in the bourgeois mind； yet a
dream； only a dream。 During this period； which has just ended；
socialism was tolerated because it was impossible and non…menacing。
Much of its thunder had been stolen； and the workingmen had been
made happy with full dinner…pails。 There was nothing to fear。 The
kind old world spun on； coupons were clipped； and larger profits
than ever were extracted from the toilers。 Coupon…clipping and
profit…extracting would continue to the end of time。 These were
functions divine in origin and held by divine right。 The
newspapers； the preachers； and the college presidents said so； and
what they say； of course； is soto the bourgeois mind。
Then came the presidential election of 1904。 Like a bolt out of a
clear sky was the socialist vote of 435；000；an increase of nearly
400 per cent in four years； the largest third…party vote； with one
exception； since the Civil War。 Socialism had shown that it was a
very live and growing revolutionary force； and all its old menace
revived。 I am afraid that neither it nor I are any longer
respectable。 The capitalist press of the country confirms me in my
opinion； and herewith I give a few post…election utterances of the
capitalist press：…
〃The Democratic party of the constitution is dead。 The Social…
Democratic party of continental Europe； preaching discontent and
class hatred； assailing law； property； and personal rights； and
insinuating confiscation and plunder； is here。〃Chicago Chronicle。
〃That over forty thousand votes should have been cast in this city
to make such a person as Eugene V。 Debs the President of the United
States is about the worst kind of advertising that Chicago could
receive。〃Chicago Inter…Ocean。
〃We cannot blink the fact that socialism is making rapid growth in
this country； where； of all others； there would seem to be less
inspiration for it。〃Brooklyn Daily Eagle。
〃Upon the hands of the Republican party an awful responsibility was
placed last Tuesday。 。 。 It knows that reformsgreat； far…sweeping
reformsare necessary； and it has the power to make them。 God help
our civilization if it does not！ 。 。 。 It must repress the trusts or
stand before the world responsible for our system of government
being changed into a social republic。 The arbitrary cutting down of
wages must cease； or socialism will seize another lever to lift
itself into power。〃The Chicago New World。
〃Scarcely any phase of the election is more sinisterly interesting
than the increase in the socialist vote。 Before election we said
that we could not afford to give aid and comfort to the socialists
in any manner。 。 。 It （socialism） must be fought in all its phases；
in its every manifestation。〃San Francisco Argonaut。
And far be it from me to deny that socialism is a menace。 It is its
purpose to wipe out； root and branch； all capitalistic institutions
of present…day society。 It is distinctly revolutionary； and in
scope and depth is vastly more tremendous than any revolution that
has ever occurred in the history of the world。 It presents a new
spectacle to the astonished world；that of an ORGANIZED；
INTERNATIONAL； REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT。 In the bourgeois mind a
class struggle is a terrible and hateful thing； and yet that is
precisely what socialism is；a world…wide class struggle between
the propertyless workers and the propertied masters of workers。 It
is the prime preachment of socialism that the struggle is a class
struggle。 The working class； in the process of social evolution；
（in the very nature of things）； is bound to revolt from the sway of
the capitalist class and to overthrow the capitalist class。 This is
the menace of socialism； and in affirming it and in tallying myself
an adherent of it； I accept my own consequent unrespectability。
As yet； to the average bourgeois mind； socialism is merely a menace；
vague and formless。 The average member of the capitalist class；
when he discusses socialism； is condemned an ignoramus out of his
own mouth。 He does not know the literature of socialism； its
philosophy； nor its politics。 He wags his head sagely and rattles
the dry bones of dead and buried ideas。 His lips mumble mouldy
phrases； such as； 〃Men are not born equal and never can be；〃 〃It is
Utopian and impossible；〃 〃Abstinence should be rewarded；〃 〃Man will
first have to be born again；〃 〃Cooperative colonies have always
failed；〃 and 〃What if we do divide up？ in ten years there would be
rich and poor men such as there are today。〃
It surely is time that the capitalists knew something about this
socialism that they feel menaces them。 And it is the hope of the
writer that the socialistic studies in this volume may in some
slight degree enlighten a few capitalistic minds。 The capitalist
must learn； first and for always； that socialism is based； not upon
the equality； but upon the inequality； of men。 Next； he must learn
that no new birth into spiritual purity is necessary before
socialism becomes possible。 He must learn that socialism deals with
what is； not with what ought to be； and that the material with which
it deals is the 〃clay of the common road；〃 the warm human； fallible
and frail； sordid and petty； absurd and contradictory； even
grotesque； and yet； withal； shot through with flashes and
glimmerings of something finer and God…like； with here and there
sweetnesses of service and unselfishness； desires for goodness； for
renunciation and sacrifice； and with conscience； stern and awful； at
times blazingly imperious； demanding the right；the right； nothing