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Shoers； the Gas and Electrical Fixture Hangers； the Metal Roofers；
the Blacksmiths； the Blacksmiths' Helpers； the Stablemen； the
Machinists； the Brewers； the Coast Seamen； the Varnishers and
Polishers； the Confectioners； the Upholsterers； the Paper Hangers
and Fresco Painters； the Drug Clerks； the Fitters and Helpers； the
Metal Workers； the Boiler Makers and Iron Ship Builders； the
Assistant Undertakers； the Carriage and Wagon Workers； and so on
down the lengthy list of organizations。
For； over all these trades； over all these thousands of men； is the
Labor Council。 When it speaks its voice is heard； and when it
orders it is obeyed。 But it； in turn； is dominated by the National
Labor Council； with which it is constantly in touch。 In this wholly
unimportant little local strike it is of interest to note the stands
taken by the different sides。 The legal representative and official
mouthpiece of the Employers' Association said： 〃This organization
is formed for defensive purposes； and it may be driven to take
offensive steps； and if so； will be strong enough to follow them up。
Labor cannot be allowed to dictate to capital and say how business
shall be conducted。 There is no objection to the formation of
unions and trades councils； but membership must not be compulsory。
It is repugnant to the American idea of liberty and cannot be
tolerated。〃
On the other hand； the president of the Team Drivers' Union said：
〃The employers of labor in this city are generally against the
trade…union movement and there seems to be a concerted effort on
their part to check the progress of organized labor。 Such action as
has been taken by them in sympathy with the present labor troubles
may； if continued； lead to a serious conflict； the outcome of which
might be most calamitous for the business and industrial interests
of San Francisco。〃
And the secretary of the United Brewery Workmen： 〃I regard a
sympathetic strike as the last weapon which organized labor should
use in its defence。 When； however； associations of employers band
together to defeat organized labor； or one of its branches； then we
should not and will not hesitate ourselves to employ the same
instrument in retaliation。〃
Thus； in a little corner of the world； is exemplified the growing
solidarity of labor。 The organization of labor has not only kept
pace with the organization of industry； but it has gained upon it。
In one winter； in the anthracite coal region； 160；000；000 in mines
and 600；000；000 in transportation and distribution consolidated its
ownership and control。 And at once； arrayed as solidly on the other
side； were the 150；000 anthracite miners。 The bituminous mines；
however； were not consolidated； yet the 250；000 men employed therein
were already combined。 And not only that； but they were also
combined with the anthracite miners； these 400；000 men being under
the control and direction of one supreme labor council。 And in this
and the other great councils are to be found captains of labor of
splendid abilities； who； in understanding of economic and industrial
conditions； are undeniably the equals of their opponents； the
captains of industry。
The United States is honeycombed with labor organizations。 And the
big federations which these go to compose aggregate millions of
members； and in their various branches handle millions of dollars
yearly。 And not only this； for the international brotherhoods and
unions are forming； and moneys for the aid of strikers pass back and
forth across the seas。 The Machinists； in their demand for a nine…
hour day； affected 500；000 men in the United States； Mexico； and
Canada。 In England the membership of working…class organizations is
approximated by Keir Hardie at 2；500；000； with reserve funds of
18；000；000。 There the cooperative movement has a membership of
1；500；000； and every year turns over in distribution more than
100；000；000。 In France； one…eighth of the whole working class is
unionized。 In Belgium the unions are very rich and powerful； and so
able to defy the masters that many of the smaller manufacturers；
unable to resist； 〃are removing their works to other countries where
the workmen's organizations are not so potential。〃 And in all other
countries； according to the stage of their economic and political
development； like figures obtain。 And Europe； today； confesses that
her greatest social problem is the labor problem； and that it is the
one most closely engrossing the attention of her statesmen。
The organization of labor is one of the chief acknowledged factors
in the retrogression of British trade。 The workers have become
class conscious as never before。 The wrong of one is the wrong of
all。 They have come to realize； in a short…sighted way； that their
masters' interests are not their interests。 The harder they work；
they believe； the more wealth they create for their masters。
Further； the more work they do in one day； the fewer men will be
needed to do the work。 So the unions place a day's stint upon their
members； beyond which they are not permitted to go。 In 〃A Study of
Trade Unionism；〃 by Benjamin Taylor in the 〃Nineteenth Century〃 of
April； 1898； are furnished some interesting corroborations。 The
facts here set forth were collected by the Executive Board of the
Employers' Federation； the documentary proofs of which are in the
hands of the secretaries。 In a certain firm the union workmen made
eight ammunition boxes a day。 Nor could they be persuaded into
making more。 A young Swiss； who could not speak English； was set to
work； and in the first day he made fifty boxes。 In the same firm
the skilled union hands filed up the outside handles of one machine…
gun a day。 That was their stint。 No one was known ever to do more。
A non…union filer came into the shop and did twelve a day。 A
Manchester firm found that to plane a large bed…casting took union
workmen one hundred and ninety hours； and non…union workmen one
hundred and thirty…five hours。 In another instance a man； resigning
from his union； day by day did double the amount of work he had done
formerly。 And to cap it all； an English gentleman； going out to
look at a wall being put up for him by union bricklayers； found one
of their number with his right arm strapped to his body； doing all
the work with his left arm …forsooth； because he was such an
energetic fellow that otherwise he would involuntarily lay more
bricks than his union permitted。
All England resounds to the cry； 〃Wake up； England！〃 But the sulky
giant is not stirred。 〃Let England's trade go to pot；〃 he says；
〃what have I to lose？〃 And England is powerless。 The capacity of
her workmen is represented by 1； in comparison with the 2。25
capacity of the American workman。 And because of the solidarity of
labor and the destructiveness of strikes； British capitalists dare
not even strive to emulate the enterprise of American capitalists。
So England watches trade slipping through her fingers and wails
unavailingly。 As a correspondent writes： 〃The enormous power of
the trade unions hangs； a sullen cloud； over the whole industrial
world here； affecting men and masters alike。〃
The political movement known as Socialism is； perhaps； even less
realized by the general public。 The great strides it has taken and
the portentous front it today exhibits are not comprehended； and；
fastened though it is in every land； it is given little space by the
capitalistic press。 For all its plea and passion and warmth； it
wells upward like a great； cold tidal wave； irresistible；
inexorable； ingulfing present…day society level by level。 By its
own preachment it is inexorable。 Just as societies have sprung into
existence； fulfilled their function； and passed away； it claims；
just as surely is present society hastening on to its dissolution。
This is a transition periodand destined to be a very short one。
Barely a century old； capitalism is ripening so rapidly that it can
never live to see a second birthday。 There is no hope for it； the
Socialists say。 It is doomed。
The cardinal tenet of Socialism is that forbidding doctrine； the
materialistic conception of history。 Men are not the masters of
their souls。 They are the puppets of great； blind forces。 The
lives they live and the deaths they die are compulsory。 All social
codes are but the reflexes of existing economic conditions； plus
certain survivals of past economic conditions。 The institutions men
build they are compelled to build。 Economic laws determine at any
given time what these institutions shall be； how long they shall
operate； and by what they shall be replaced。 And so； through the
economic process； the Socialist preaches the ripening of the
capitalistic society and the coming of the new cooperative society。
The second great tenet of Socialism； itself a phase of the
materialistic conception of history； is