贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > war of the classes >

第5章

war of the classes-第5章

小说: war of the classes 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




his experiences Mr。 Cunniff was forced to confess; 〃I lived in a

world that showed our industrial life a…tremble from beneath with a

never…ceasing ferment。〃



The socialists have already captured the Western Federation of

Miners; the Western Hotel and Restaurant Employees' Union; and the

Patternmakers' National Association。  The Western Federation of

Miners; at a recent convention; declared:  〃The strike has failed to

secure to the working classes their liberty; we therefore call upon

the workers to strike as one man for their liberties at the ballot

box。 。 。 。 We put ourselves on record as committed to the programme

of independent political action。 。 。 。 We indorse the platform of

the socialist party; and accept it as the declaration of principles

of our organization。  We call upon our members as individuals to

commence immediately the organization of the socialist movement in

their respective towns and states; and to cooperate in every way for

the furtherance of the principles of socialism and of the socialist

party。  In states where the socialist party has not perfected its

organization; we advise that every assistance be given by our

members to that end。 。 。 。 We therefore call for organizers; capable

and well…versed in the whole programme of the labor movement; to be

sent into each state to preach the necessity of organization on the

political as well as on the economic field。〃



The capitalist class has a glimmering consciousness of the class

struggle which is shaping itself in the midst of society; but the

capitalists; as a class; seem to lack the ability for organizing;

for coming together; such as is possessed by the working class。  No

American capitalist ever aids an English capitalist in the common

fight; while workmen have formed international unions; the

socialists a world…wide international organization; and on all sides

space and race are bridged in the effort to achieve solidarity。

Resolutions of sympathy; and; fully as important; donations of

money; pass back and forth across the sea to wherever labor is

fighting its pitched battles。



For divers reasons; the capitalist class lacks this cohesion or

solidarity; chief among which is the optimism bred of past success。

And; again; the capitalist class is divided; it has within itself a

class struggle of no mean proportions; which tends to irritate and

harass it and to confuse the situation。  The small capitalist and

the large capitalist are grappled with each other; struggling over

what Achille Loria calls the 〃bi…partition of the revenues。〃  Such a

struggle; though not precisely analogous; was waged between the

landlords and manufacturers of England when the one brought about

the passage of the Factory Acts and the other the abolition of the

Corn Laws。



Here and there; however; certain members of the capitalist class see

clearly the cleavage in society along which the struggle is

beginning to show itself; while the press and magazines are

beginning to raise an occasional and troubled voice。  Two leagues of

class…conscious capitalists have been formed for the purpose of

carrying on their side of the struggle。  Like the socialists; they

do not mince matters; but state boldly and plainly that they are

fighting to subjugate the opposing class。  It is the barons against

the commons。  One of these leagues; the National Association of

Manufacturers; is stopping short of nothing in what it conceives to

be a life…and…death struggle。  Mr。 D。 M。 Parry; who is the president

of the league; as well as president of the National Metal Trades'

Association; is leaving no stone unturned in what he feels to be a

desperate effort to organize his class。  He has issued the call to

arms in terms everything but ambiguous:  〃THERE IS STILL TIME IN THE

UNITED STALES TO HEAD OFF THE SOCIALISTIC PROGRAMME; WHICH;

UNRESTRAINED; IS SURE TO WRECK OUR COUNTRY。〃



As he says; the work is for 〃federating employers in order that we

may meet with a united front all issues that affect us。  We must

come to this sooner or later。 。 。 。 The work immediately before the

National Association of Manufacturers is; first; KEEP THE VICIOUS

EIGHT…HOUR BILL OFF THE BOOKS; second; to DESTROY THE ANTI…

INJUNCTION BILL; which wrests your business from you and places it

in the hands of your employees; third; to secure the PASSAGE OF THE

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY BILL; the latter would go

through with a rush were it not for the hectoring opposition of

Organized Labor。〃  By this department; he further says; 〃business

interests would have direct and sympathetic representation at

Washington。〃



In a later letter; issued broadcast to the capitalists outside the

League; President Parry points out the success which is already

beginning to attend the efforts of the League at Washington。  〃We

have contributed more than any other influence to the quick passage

of the new Department of Commerce Bill。  It is said that the

activities of this office are numerous and satisfactory; but of that

I must not say too muchor anything。 。 。 。 At Washington the

Association is not represented too much; either directly or

indirectly。  Sometimes it is known in a most powerful way that it is

represented vigorously and unitedly。  Sometimes it is not known that

it is represented at all。〃



The second class…conscious capitalist organization is called the

National Economic League。  It likewise manifests the frankness of

men who do not dilly…dally with terms; but who say what they mean;

and who mean to settle down to a long; hard fight。  Their letter of

invitation to prospective members opens boldly。  〃We beg to inform

you that the National Economic League will render its services in an

impartial educational movement TO OPPOSE SOCIALISM AND CLASS

HATRED。〃  Among its class…conscious members; men who recognize that

the opening guns of the class struggle have been fired; may be

instanced the following names:  Hon。 Lyman J。 Gage; Ex…Secretary U。

S。 Treasury; Hon。 Thomas Jefferson Coolidge; Ex…Minister to France;

Rev。 Henry C。 Potter; Bishop New York Diocese; Hon。 John D。 Long;

Ex…Secretary U。 S。 Navy; Hon。 Levi P。 Morton; Ex…Vice President

United States; Henry Clews; John F。 Dryden; President Prudential

Life Insurance Co。; John A。 McCall; President New York Life

Insurance Co。; J。 L。 Greatsinger; President Brooklyn Rapid Transit

Co。; the shipbuilding firm of William Cramp & Sons; the Southern

Railway system; and the Atchison; Topeka; & Santa Fe Railway

Company。



Instances of the troubled editorial voice have not been rare during

the last several years。  There were many cries from the press during

the last days of the anthracite coal strike that the mine owners; by

their stubbornness; were sowing the regrettable seeds of socialism。

The World's Work for December; 1902; said:  〃The next significant

fact is the recommendation by the Illinois State Federation of Labor

that all members of labor unions who are also members of the state

militia shall resign from the militia。  This proposition has been

favorably regarded by some other labor organizations。  It has done

more than any other single recent declaration or action to cause a

public distrust of such unions as favor it。  IT HINTS OF A CLASS

SEPARATION THAT IN TURN HINTS OF ANARCHY。〃



The OUTLOOK; February 14; 1903; in reference to the rioting at

Waterbury; remarks; 〃That all this disorder should have occurred in

a city of the character and intelligence of Waterbury indicates that

the industrial war spirit is by no means confined to the immigrant

or ignorant working classes。〃



That President Roosevelt has smelt the smoke from the firing line of

the class struggle is evidenced by his words; 〃Above all we need to

remember that any kind of CLASS ANIMOSITY IN THE POLITICAL WORLD is;

if possible; even more destructive to national welfare than

sectional; race; or religious animosity。〃  The chief thing to be

noted here 

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的