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making a showing which； reckoned by ordinary standards； is out of all
proportion to their numbers。 Their cause is growing among union laborers；
and their long fight； intended to turn the Federation into a political
organization； is likely to win。〃
They miss no opportunity of driving home the necessity for political
action； the necessity for capturing the political machinery of society
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War of the Classes
whereby they may master society。 As an instance of this is the avidity with
which the American socialists seized upon the famous Taft…Vale Decision
in England； which was to the effect that an unincorporated union could be
sued and its treasury rifled by process of law。 Throughout the United
States； the socialists pointed the moral in similar fashion to the way it was
pointed by the Social…Democratic Herald； which advised the trade…
unionists； in view of the decision； to stop trying to fight capital with
money； which they lacked； and to begin fighting with the ballot； which
was their strongest weapon。
Night and day； tireless and unrelenting； they labor at their self…
imposed task of undermining society。 Mr。 M。 G。 Cunniff； who lately made
an intimate study of trade…unionism； says： 〃All through the unions
socialism filters。 Almost every other man is a socialist； preaching that
unionism is but a makeshift。〃 〃Malthus be damned；〃 they told him； 〃for
the good time was coming when every man should be able to rear his
family in comfort。〃 In one union； with two thousand members； Mr。
Cunniff found every man a socialist； and from 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
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War of the Classes
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
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War of the Classes
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 A