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the human heart。 It is far easier to arrive at what may be called a
technical definition； worded in commercial terms； as； for instance；
that A SCAB IS ONE WHO GIVES MORE VALUE FOR THE SAME PRICE THAN
ANOTHER。
The laborer who gives more time or strength or skill for the same
wage than another； or equal time or strength or skill for a less
wage； is a scab。 This generousness on his part is hurtful to his
fellow…laborers； for it compels them to an equal generousness which
is not to their liking； and which gives them less of food and
shelter。 But a word may be said for the scab。 Just as his act
makes his rivals compulsorily generous； so do they； by fortune of
birth and training； make compulsory his act of generousness。 He
does not scab because he wants to scab。 No whim of the spirit； no
burgeoning of the heart； leads him to give more of his labor power
than they for a certain sum。
It is because he cannot get work on the same terms as they that he
is a scab。 There is less work than there are men to do work。 This
is patent； else the scab would not loom so large on the labor…market
horizon。 Because they are stronger than he； or more skilled； or
more energetic； it is impossible for him to take their places at the
same wage。 To take their places he must give more value； must work
longer hours or receive a smaller wage。 He does so； and he cannot
help it； for his will 〃to live〃 is driving him on as well as they
are being driven on by their will 〃to live〃； and to live he must win
food and shelter； which he can do only by receiving permission to
work from some man who owns a bit of land or a piece of machinery。
And to receive permission from this man； he must make the
transaction profitable for him。
Viewed in this light； the scab； who gives more labor power for a
certain price than his fellows； is not so generous after all。 He is
no more generous with his energy than the chattel slave and the
convict laborer； who； by the way； are the almost perfect scabs。
They give their labor power for about the minimum possible price。
But； within limits； they may loaf and malinger； and； as scabs； are
exceeded by the machine； which never loafs and malingers and which
is the ideally perfect scab。
It is not nice to be a scab。 Not only is it not in good social
taste and comradeship； but； from the standpoint of food and shelter；
it is bad business policy。 Nobody desires to scab； to give most for
least。 The ambition of every individual is quite the opposite； to
give least for most； and； as a result； living in a tooth…and…nail
society； battle royal is waged by the ambitious individuals。 But in
its most salient aspect； that of the struggle over the division of
the joint product； it is no longer a battle between individuals； but
between groups of individuals。 Capital and labor apply themselves
to raw material； make something useful out of it； add to its value；
and then proceed to quarrel over the division of the added value。
Neither cares to give most for least。 Each is intent on giving less
than the other and on receiving more。
Labor combines into its unions； capital into partnerships；
associations； corporations； and trusts。 A group…struggle is the
result； in which the individuals； as individuals； play no part。 The
Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners； for instance； serves notice
on the Master Builders' Association that it demands an increase of
the wage of its members from 3。50 a day to 4； and a Saturday half…
holiday without pay。 This means that the carpenters are trying to
give less for more。 Where they received 21 for six full days； they
are endeavoring to get 22 for five days and a half；that is； they
will work half a day less each week and receive a dollar more。
Also； they expect the Saturday half…holiday to give work to one
additional man for each eleven previously employed。 This last
affords a splendid example of the development of the group idea。 In
this particular struggle the individual has no chance at all for
life。 The individual carpenter would be crushed like a mote by the
Master Builders' Association； and like a mote the individual master
builder would be crushed by the Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners。
In the group…struggle over the division of the joint product； labor
utilizes the union with its two great weapons； the strike and the
boycott； while capital utilizes the trust and the association； the
weapons of which are the black…list； the lockout； and the scab。 The
scab is by far the most formidable weapon of the three。 He is the
man who breaks strikes and causes all the trouble。 Without him
there would be no trouble； for the strikers are willing to remain
out peacefully and indefinitely so long as other men are not in
their places； and so long as the particular aggregation of capital
with which they are fighting is eating its head off in enforced
idleness。
But both warring groups have reserve weapons。 Were it not for the
scab； these weapons would not be brought into play。 But the scab
takes the place of the striker； who begins at once to wield a most
powerful weapon； terrorism。 The will 〃to live〃 of the scab recoils
from the menace of broken bones and violent death。 With all due
respect to the labor leaders； who are not to be blamed for volubly
asseverating otherwise； terrorism is a well…defined and eminently
successful policy of the labor unions。 It has probably won them
more strikes than all the rest of the weapons in their arsenal。
This terrorism； however； must be clearly understood。 It is directed
solely against the scab； placing him in such fear for life and limb
as to drive him out of the contest。 But when terrorism gets out of
hand and inoffensive non…combatants are injured； law and order
threatened； and property destroyed； it becomes an edged tool that
cuts both ways。 This sort of terrorism is sincerely deplored by the
labor leaders； for it has probably lost them as many strikes as have
been lost by any other single cause。
The scab is powerless under terrorism。 As a rule； he is not so good
nor gritty a man as the men he is displacing； and he lacks their
fighting organization。 He stands in dire need of stiffening and
backing。 His employers； the capitalists； draw their two remaining
weapons； the ownership of which is debatable； but which they for the
time being happen to control。 These two weapons may be called the
political and judicial machinery of society。 When the scab crumples
up and is ready to go down before the fists； bricks； and bullets of
the labor group； the capitalist group puts the police and soldiers
into the field； and begins a general bombardment of injunctions。
Victory usually follows； for the labor group cannot withstand the
combined assault of gatling guns and injunctions。
But it has been noted that the ownership of the political and
judicial machinery of society is debatable。 In the Titanic struggle
over the division of the joint product； each group reaches out for
every available weapon。 Nor are they blinded by the smoke of
conflict。 They fight their battles as coolly and collectedly as
ever battles were fought on paper。 The capitalist group has long
since realized the immense importance of controlling the political
and judicial machinery of society。
Taught by gatlings and injunctions； which have smashed many an
otherwise successful strike； the labor group is beginning to realize
that it all depends upon who is behind and who is before the
gatlings and the injunctions。 And he who knows the labor movement
knows that there is slowly growing up and being formulated a clear
and definite policy for the capture of the political and judicial
machinery。
This is the terrible spectre which Mr。 John Graham Brooks sees
looming portentously over the twentieth century world。 No man may
boast a more intimate knowledge of the labor movement than he； and
he reiterates again and again the dangerous likelihood of the whole
labor group capturing the political machinery of society。 As he
says in his recent book： ｛6｝ 〃It is not probable that employers can
destroy unionism in the United States。 Adroit and desperate
attempts will； however； be made； if we mean by unionism the
undisciplined and aggressive fact of vigorous and determined
organizations。 If capital should prove too strong in this struggle；
the result is easy to predict。 The employers have only to convince
organized labor that it cannot hold its own against the capitalist
manager； and the whole energy that now goes to the union will turn
to an aggressive political socialism。 It will not be the harmless
sympathy with increased city and state functions which trade unions
already feel； it will become a turbulent political force bent upon
using every weapon of taxation against the rich。〃
This struggle not to be a scab； to avoid giving more for less and to
succeed in givi