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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
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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
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War of the Classes
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 the class struggle。 In the social struggle for
existence； men are forced into classes。 〃The history of all society thus far
is the history of class strife。〃 In existing society the capitalist class exploits
the working class； the proletariat。 The interests of the exploiter are not the
interests of the exploited。 〃Profits are legitimate；〃 says the one。 〃Profits are
unpaid wages；〃 replies the other； when he has become conscious of his
class； 〃therefore profits are robbery。〃 The capitalist enforces his profits
because he is the legal owner of all the means of production。 He is the
legal owner because he controls the political machinery of society。 The
Socialist sets to work to capture the political machinery； so that he may
make illegal the capitalist's ownership of the means of production； and
make legal his own ownership of the means of production。 And it is this
struggle； between these two classes； upon which the world has at last
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entered。
Scientific Socialism is very young。 Only yesterday it was in swaddling
clothes。 But today it is a vigorous young giant； well braced to battle for
what it wants； and knowing precisely what it wants。 It holds its
international conventions； where world…policies are formulated by the
representatives of millions of Socialists。 In little Belgium there are three…
quarters of a million of men who work for the cause； in Germany；
3；000；000； Austria； between 1895 and 1897； raised her socialist vote from
90；000 to 750；000。 France in 1871 had a whole generation of Socialists
wiped out； yet in 1885 there were 30；000； and in 1898； 1；000；000。
Ere the last Spaniard had evacuated Cuba； Socialist groups were
forming。 And from far Japan； in these first days of the twentieth century；
writes one Tomoyoshi Murai： 〃The interest of our people on Socialism has
been greatly awakened these days； especially among our laboring people
on one hand and