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was expelled from his union。 Also his union demanded his employers；
Shafer & Barry； to discharge him from their service。 This they complied
with； rather than face the threatened strike。
Mr。 Robert L。 Walker； first lieutenant of the Light Guards； a New
Haven militia company； recently resigned。 His reason was； that he was a
member of the Car Builders' Union； and that the two organizations were
antagonistic to each other。 During a New Orleans street…car strike not long
ago； a whole company of militia； called out to protect non…union men；
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War of the Classes
resigned in a body。 Mr。 John Mulholland； president of the International
Association of Allied Metal Mechanics； has stated that he does not want
the members to join the militia。 The Local Trades' Assembly of Syracuse；
New York； has passed a resolution； by unanimous vote； requiring union
men who are members of the National Guard to resign； under pain of
expulsion； from the unions。 The Amalgamated Sheet Metal Workers'
Association has incorporated in its constitution an amendment excluding
from membership in its organization 〃any person a member of the regular
army； or of the State militia or naval reserve。〃 The Illinois State Federation
of Labor； at a recent convention； passed without a dissenting vote a
resolution declaring that membership in military organizations is a
violation of labor union obligations； and requesting all union men to
withdraw from the militia。 The president of the Federation； Mr。 Albert
Young； declared that the militia was a menace not only to unions； but to all
workers throughout the country。
These instances may be multiplied a thousand fold。 The union
workmen are becoming conscious of their class； and of the struggle their
class is waging with the capitalist class。 To be a member of the militia is to
be a traitor to the union； for the militia is a weapon wielded by the
employers to crush the workers in the struggle between the warring
groups。
Another interesting； and even more pregnant； phase of the class
struggle is the political aspect of it as displayed by the socialists。 Five men；
standing together； may perform prodigies； 500 men； marching as marched
the historic Five Hundred of Marseilles； may sack a palace and destroy a
king； while 500；000 men； passionately preaching the propaganda of a class
struggle； waging a class struggle along political lines； and backed by the
moral and intellectual support of 10；000；000 more men of like convictions
throughout the world； may come pretty close to realizing a class struggle
in these United States of ours。
In 1900 these men cast 150；000 votes； two years later； in 1902； they
cast 300；000 votes； and in 1904 they cast 450；000。 They have behind them
a most imposing philosophic and scientific literature； they own illustrated
magazines and reviews； high in quality； dignity； and restraint； they possess
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War of the Classes
countless daily and weekly papers which circulate throughout the land；
and single papers which have subscribers by the hundreds of thousands；
and they literally swamp the working classes in a vast sea of tracts and
pamphlets。 No political party in the United States； no church organization
nor mission effort； has as indefatigable workers as has the socialist party。
They multiply themselves； know of no effort nor sacrifice too great to
make for the Cause； and 〃Cause；〃 with them； is spelled out in capitals。
They work for it with a religious zeal； and would die for it with a
willingness similar to that of the Christian martyrs。
These men are preaching an uncompromising and deadly class
struggle。 In fact； they are organized upon the basis of a class struggle。
〃The history of society；〃 they say； 〃is a history of class struggles。 Patrician
struggled with plebeian in early Rome； the king and the burghers； with the
nobles in the Middle Ages； later on； the king and the nobles with the
bourgeoisie； and today the struggle is on between the triumphant
bourgeoisie and the rising proletariat。 By 'proletariat' is meant the class of
people without capital which sells its labor for a living。
〃That the proletariat shall conquer；〃 （mark the note of fatalism）； 〃is as
certain as the rising sun。 Just as the bourgeoisie of the eighteenth century
wanted democracy applied to politics； so the proletariat of the twentieth
century wants democracy applied to industry。 As the bourgeoisie
complained against the government being run by and for the nobles； so the
proletariat complains against the government and industry being run by
and for the bourgeoisie； and so； following in the footsteps of its
predecessor； the proletariat will possess itself of the government； apply
democracy to industry； abolish wages； which are merely legalized robbery；
and run the business of the country in its own interest。〃
〃Their aim；〃 they say； 〃is to organize the working class； and those in
sympathy with it； into a political party； with the object of conquering the
powers of government and of using them for the purpose of transforming
the present system of private ownership of the means of production and
distribution into collective ownership by the entire people。〃
Briefly stated； this is the battle plan of these 450；000 men who call
themselves 〃socialists。〃 And； in the face of the existence of such an
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War of the Classes
aggressive group of men； a class struggle cannot very well be denied by
the optimistic Americans who say： 〃A class struggle is monstrous。 Sir；
there is no class struggle。〃 The class struggle is here； and the optimistic
American had better gird himself for the fray and put a stop to it； rather
than sit idly declaiming that what ought not to be is not； and never will be。
But the socialists； fanatics and dreamers though they may well be；
betray a foresight and insight； and a genius for organization； which put to
shame the class with which they are openly at war。 Failing of rapid success
in waging a sheer political propaganda； and finding that they were
alienating the most intelligent and most easily organized portion of the
voters； the socialists lessoned from the experience and turned their
energies upon the trade…union movement。 To win the trade unions was
well…nigh to win the war； and recent events show that they have done far
more winning in this direction than have the capitalists。
Instead of antagonizing the unions； which had been their previous
policy； the socialists proceeded to conciliate the unions。 〃Let every good
socialist join the union of his trade；〃 the edict went forth。 〃Bore from
within and capture the trade…union movement。〃 And this policy； only
several years old； has reaped fruits far beyond their fondest expectations。
Today the great labor unions are honeycombed with socialists； 〃boring
from within；〃 as they picturesquely term their undermining labor。 At work
and at play； at business meeting and council； their insidious propaganda
goes on。 At the shoulder of the trade…unionist is the socialist； sympathizing
with him； aiding him with head and hand； suggestingperpetually
suggestingthe necessity for political action。 As the JOURNAL； of
Lansing； Michigan； a republican paper； has remarked： 〃The socialists in
the labor unions are tireless workers。 They are sincere； energetic； and self…
sacrificing。 。 。 。 They stick to the union and work all the while； thus
making a showing which； reckoned by ordinary standard