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third time。 。 。 。 There is no strike； there is no real labor trouble； but the
masters and men are alike suffering from sheer lack of employment。
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Markets which were once theirs are now American。〃 It would seem that
the unfortunate British laborer is 'twixt the devil and the deep sea。 If he
gives most for least； he faces a frightful slavery such as marked the
beginning of the factory system。 If he gives least for most； he drives
industry away to other countries and has no work at all。
But the union laborers of the United States have nothing of which to
boast； while； according to their trade…union ethics； they have a great deal
of which to be ashamed。 They passionately preach short hours and big
wages； the shorter the hours and the bigger the wages the better。 Their
hatred for a scab is as terrible as the hatred of a patriot for a traitor； of a
Christian for a Judas。 And in the face of all this； they are as colossal scabs
as the United States is a colossal scab。 For all of their boasted unions and
high labor ideals； they are about the most thoroughgoing scabs on the
planet。
Receiving 4。50 per day； because of his proficiency and immense
working power； the American laborer has been known to scab upon scabs
（so called） who took his place and received only 0。90 per day for a longer
day。 In this particular instance； five Chinese coolies； working longer hours；
gave less value for the price received from their employer than did one
American laborer。
It is upon his brother laborers overseas that the American laborer most
outrageously scabs。 As Mr。 Casson has shown； an English nail… maker gets
3 per week； while an American nail…maker gets 30。 But the English
worker turns out 200 pounds of nails per week； while the American turns
out 5500 pounds。 If he were as 〃fair〃 as his English brother； other things
being equal； he would be receiving； at the English worker's rate of pay；
82。50。 As it is； he is scabbing upon his English brother to the tune of
79。50 per week。 Dr。 Schultze… Gaevernitz has shown that a German
weaver produces 466 yards of cotton a week at a cost of 。303 per yard；
while an American weaver produces 1200 yards at a cost of 。02 per yard。
But； it may be objected； a great part of this is due to the more
improved American machinery。 Very true； but none the less a great part is
still due to the superior energy； skill； and willingness of the American
laborer。 The English laborer is faithful to the policy of 〃ca' canny。〃 He
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War of the Classes
refuses point…blank to get the work out of a machine that the New World
scab gets out of a machine。 Mr。 Maxim； observing a wasteful hand…labor
process in his English factory； invented a machine which he proved
capable of displacing several men。 But workman after workman was put at
the machine； and without exception they turned out neither more nor less
than a workman turned out by hand。 They obeyed the mandate of the
union and went easy； while Mr。 Maxim gave up in despair。 Nor will the
British workman run machines at as high speed as the American； nor will
he run so many。 An American workman will 〃give equal attention
simultaneously to three； four； or six machines or tools； while the British
workman is compelled by his trade union to limit his attention to one； so
that employment may be given to half a dozen men。〃
But for scabbing； no blame attaches itself anywhere。 With rare
exceptions； all the people in the world are scabs。 The strong； capable
workman gets a job and holds it because of his strength and capacity。 And
he holds it because out of his strength and capacity he gives a better value
for his wage than does the weaker and less capable workman。 Therefore he
is scabbing upon his weaker and less capable brother workman。 He is
giving more value for the price paid by the employer。
The superior workman scabs upon the inferior workman because he is
so constituted and cannot help it。 The one； by fortune of birth and
upbringing； is strong and capable； the other； by fortune of birth and
upbringing； is not so strong nor capable。 It is for the same reason that one
country scabs upon another。 That country which has the good fortune to
possess great natural resources； a finer sun and soil； unhampering
institutions； and a deft and intelligent labor class and capitalist class is
bound to scab upon a country less fortunately situated。 It is the good
fortune of the United States that is making her the colossal scab； just as it
is the good fortune of one man to be born with a straight back while his
brother is born with a hump。
It is not good to give most for least； not good to be a scab。 The word
has gained universal opprobrium。 On the other hand； to be a non…scab； to
give least for most； is universally branded as stingy； selfish； and
unchristian…like。 So all the world； like the British workman； is 'twixt the
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devil and the deep sea。 It is treason to one's fellows to scab； it is
unchristian…like not to scab。
Since to give least for most； and to give most for least； are universally
bad； what remains？ Equity remains； which is to give like for like； the same
for the same； neither more nor less。 But this equity； society； as at present
constituted； cannot give。 It is not in the nature of present…day society for
men to give like for like； the same for the same。 And so long as men
continue to live in this competitive society； struggling tooth and nail with
one another for food and shelter； （which is to struggle tooth and nail with
one another for life）； that long will the scab continue to exist。 His will 〃to
live〃 will force him to exist。 He may be flouted and jeered by his brothers；
he may be beaten with bricks and clubs by the men who by superior
strength and capacity scab upon him as he scabs upon them by longer
hours and smaller wages； but through it all he will persist； giving a bit
more of most for least than they are giving。
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THE QUESTION OF THE
MAXIMUM
For any social movement or development there must be a maximum
limit beyond which it cannot proceed。 That civilization which does not
advance must decline； and so； when the maximum of development has
been reached in any given direction； society must either retrograde or
change the direction of its advance。 There are many families of men that
have failed； in the critical period of their economic evolution； to effect a
change in direction； and were forced to fall back。 Vanquished at the
moment of their maximum； they have dropped out of the whirl of the
world。 There was no room for them。 Stronger competitors have taken their
places； and they have either rotted into oblivion or remain to be crushed
under the iron heel of the dominant races in as remorseless a struggle as
the world has yet witnessed。 But in this struggle fair women and
chivalrous men will play no part。 Types and ideals have changed。 Helens
and Launcelots are anachronisms。 Blows will be given and taken； and men
fight and die； but not for faiths and altars。 Shrines will be desecrated； but
they will be the shrines； not of temples； but market…places。 Prophets will
arise； but they will be the prophets of prices and products。 Battles will be
waged； not for honor and glory； nor for thrones and sceptres； but for
dollars and cents and for marts and exchanges。 Brain and not brawn