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tendency of crying out to the Government for aid〃 in the way of labor
legislation。 Without a quiver； a member of the capitalist group will run
tens of thousands of pitiful child… laborers through his life…destroying
cotton factories； and weep maudlin and constitutional tears over one scab
hit in the back with a brick。 He will drive a 〃compulsory〃 free contract
with an unorganized laborer on the basis of a starvation wage； saying；
〃Take it or leave it；〃 knowing that to leave it means to die of hunger； and
in the next breath； when the organizer entices that laborer into a union；
will storm patriotically about the inalienable right of all men to work。 In
short； the chief moral concern of either side is with the morals of the other
side。 They are not in the business for their moral welfare； but to achieve
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War of the Classes
the enviable position of the non…scab who gets more than he gives。
But there is more to the question than has yet been discussed。 The
labor scab is no more detestable to his brother laborers than is the
capitalist scab to his brother capitalists。 A capitalist may get most for least
in dealing with his laborers； and in so far be a non… scab； but at the same
time； in his dealings with his fellow… capitalists； he may give most for least
and be the very worst kind of scab。 The most heinous crime an employer
of labor can commit is to scab on his fellow…employers of labor。 Just as the
individual laborers have organized into groups to protect themselves from
the peril of the scab laborer； so have the employers organized into groups
to protect themselves from the peril of the scab employer。 The employers'
federations； associations； and trusts are nothing more nor less than unions。
They are organized to destroy scabbing amongst themselves and to
encourage scabbing amongst others。 For this reason they pool interests；
determine prices； and present an unbroken and aggressive front to the
labor group。
As has been said before； nobody likes to play the compulsorily
generous role of scab。 It is a bad business proposition on the face of it。
And it is patent that there would be no capitalist scabs if there were not
more capital than there is work for capital to do。 When there are enough
factories in existence to supply； with occasional stoppages； a certain
commodity； the building of new factories by a rival concern； for the
production of that commodity； is plain advertisement that that capital is
out of a job。 The first act of this new aggregation of capital will be to cut
prices； to give more for less；in short to scab； to strike at the very
existence of the less generous aggregation of capital the work of which it
is trying to do。
No scab capitalist strives to give more for less for any other reason
than that he hopes； by undercutting a competitor and driving that
competitor out of the market； to get that market and its profits for himself。
His ambition is to achieve the day when he shall stand alone in the field
both as buyer and seller；when he will be the royal non…scab； buying most
for least； selling least for most； and reducing all about him； the small
buyers and sellers； （the consumers and the laborers）； to a general condition
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War of the Classes
of scabdom。 This； for example； has been the history of Mr。 Rockefeller
and the Standard Oil Company。 Through all the sordid villanies of
scabdom he has passed； until today he is a most regal non…scab。 However；
to continue in this enviable position； he must be prepared at a moment's
notice to go scabbing again。 And he is prepared。 Whenever a competitor
arises； Mr。 Rockefeller changes about from giving least for most and gives
most for least with such a vengeance as to drive the competitor out of
existence。
The banded capitalists discriminate against a scab capitalist by
refusing him trade advantages； and by combining against him in most
relentless fashion。 The banded laborers； discriminating against a scab
laborer in more primitive fashion； with a club； are no more merciless than
the banded capitalists。
Mr。 Casson tells of a New York capitalist who withdrew from the
Sugar Union several years ago and became a scab。 He was worth
something like twenty millions of dollars。 But the Sugar Union； standing
shoulder to shoulder with the Railroad Union and several other unions；
beat him to his knees till he cried； 〃Enough。〃 So frightfully did they beat
him that he was obliged to turn over to his creditors his home； his chickens；
and his gold watch。 In point of fact； he was as thoroughly bludgeoned by
the Federation of Capitalist Unions as ever scab workman was bludgeoned
by a labor union。 The intent in either case is the same；to destroy the
scab's producing power。 The labor scab with concussion of the brain is put
out of business； and so is the capitalist scab who has lost all his dollars
down to his chickens and his watch。
But the role of scab passes beyond the individual。 Just as individuals
scab on other individuals； so do groups scab on other groups。 And the
principle involved is precisely the same as in the case of the simple labor
scab。 A group； in the nature of its organization； is often compelled to give
most for least； and； so doing； to strike at the life of another group。 At the
present moment all Europe is appalled by that colossal scab； the United
States。 And Europe is clamorous with agitation for a Federation of
National Unions to protect her from the United States。 It may be remarked；
in passing； that in its prime essentials this agitation in no wise differs from
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War of the Classes
the trade…union agitation among workmen in any industry。 The trouble is
caused by the scab who is giving most for least。 The result of the
American scab's nefarious actions will be to strike at the food and shelter
of Europe。 The way for Europe to protect herself is to quit bickering
among her parts and to form a union against the scab。 And if the union is
formed； armies and navies may be expected to be brought into play in
fashion similar to the bricks and clubs in ordinary labor struggles。
In this connection； and as one of many walking delegates for the
nations； M。 Leroy…Beaulieu； the noted French economist； may well be
quoted。 In a letter to the Vienna Tageblatt； he advocates an economic
alliance among the Continental nations for the purpose of barring out
American goods； an economic alliance； in his own language； 〃WHICH
MAY POSSIBLY AND DESIRABLY DEVELOP INTO A POLITICAL
ALLIANCE。〃
It will be noted； in the utterances of the Continental walking delegates；
that； one and all； they leave England out of the proposed union。 And in
England herself the feeling is growing that her days are numbered if she
cannot unite for offence and defence with the great American scab。 As
Andrew Carnegie said some time ago； 〃The only course for Great Britain
seems to be reunion with her grandchild or sure decline to a secondary
place； and then to comparative insignificance in the future annals of the
English… speaking race。〃
Cecil Rhodes； speaking of what would have obtained but for the pig…
headedness of George III； and of what will obtain when England and the
United States are united； said； 〃NO CANNON WOULD。 。 。 BE FIRED
ON EITHER HEMISPHERE BUT BY PERMISSION OF THE
ENGLISH RACE。〃 It would seem that England； fronted by the hostile
Continental Union