war of the classes-第5章
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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