按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
woman on the street。 They might have been mates； but society has
decreed otherwise。
And； while it is not nice that these men should die； it is ordained
that they must die； and we should not quarrel with them if they
cumber our highways and kitchen stoops with their perambulating
carcasses。 This is a form of elimination we not only countenance
but compel。 Therefore let us be cheerful and honest about it。 Let
us be as stringent as we please with our police regulations； but for
goodness' sake let us refrain from telling the tramp to go to work。
Not only is it unkind； but it is untrue and hypocritical。 We know
there is no work for him。 As the scapegoat to our economic and
industrial sinning； or to the plan of things； if you will； we should
give him credit。 Let us be just。 He is so made。 Society made him。
He did not make himself。
THE SCAB
In a competitive society； where men struggle with one another for
food and shelter； what is more natural than that generosity； when it
diminishes the food and shelter of men other than he who is
generous； should be held an accursed thing？ Wise old saws to the
contrary； he who takes from a man's purse takes from his existence。
To strike at a man's food and shelter is to strike at his life； and
in a society organized on a tooth…and…nail basis； such an act；
performed though it may be under the guise of generosity； is none
the less menacing and terrible。
It is for this reason that a laborer is so fiercely hostile to
another laborer who offers to work for less pay or longer hours。 To
hold his place； （which is to live）； he must offset this offer by
another equally liberal； which is equivalent to giving away somewhat
from the food and shelter he enjoys。 To sell his day's work for 2；
instead of 2。50； means that he； his wife； and his children will not
have so good a roof over their heads； so warm clothes on their
backs； so substantial food in their stomachs。 Meat will be bought
less frequently and it will be tougher and less nutritious； stout
new shoes will go less often on the children's feet； and disease and
death will be more imminent in a cheaper house and neighborhood。
Thus the generous laborer； giving more of a day's work for less
return； （measured in terms of food and shelter）； threatens the life
of his less generous brother laborer； and at the best； if he does
not destroy that life； he diminishes it。 Whereupon the less
generous laborer looks upon him as an enemy； and； as men are
inclined to do in a tooth…and…nail society； he tries to kill the man
who is trying to kill him。
When a striker kills with a brick the man who has taken his place；
he has no sense of wrong…doing。 In the deepest holds of his being；
though he does not reason the impulse； he has an ethical sanction。
He feels dimly that he has justification； just as the home…defending
Boer felt； though more sharply； with each bullet he fired at the
invading English。 Behind every brick thrown by a striker is the
selfish will 〃to live〃 of himself； and the slightly altruistic will
〃to live〃 of his family。 The family group came into the world
before the State group； and society； being still on the primitive
basis of tooth and nail； the will 〃to live〃 of the State is not so
compelling to the striker as is the will 〃to live〃 of his family and
himself。
In addition to the use of bricks； clubs； and bullets； the selfish
laborer finds it necessary to express his feelings in speech。 Just
as the peaceful country…dweller calls the sea…rover a 〃pirate；〃 and
the stout burgher calls the man who breaks into his strong…box a
〃robber；〃 so the selfish laborer applies the opprobrious epithet a
〃scab〃 to the laborer who takes from him food and shelter by being
more generous in the disposal of his labor power。 The sentimental
connotation of 〃scab〃 is as terrific as that of 〃traitor〃 or
〃Judas；〃 and a sentimental definition would be as deep and varied as
the human heart。 It is far easier to arrive at what may be called a
technical definition； worded in commercial terms； as； for instance；
that A SCAB IS ONE WHO GIVES MORE VALUE FOR THE SAME PRICE THAN
ANOTHER。
The laborer who gives more time or strength or skill for the same
wage than another； or equal time or strength or skill for a less
wage； is a scab。 This generousness on his part is hurtful to his
fellow…laborers； for it compels them to an equal generousness which
is not to their liking； and which gives them less of food and
shelter。 But a word may be said for the scab。 Just as his act
makes his rivals compulsorily generous； so do they； by fortune of
birth and training； make compulsory his act of generousness。 He
does not scab because he wants to scab。 No whim of the spirit； no
burgeoning of the heart； leads him to give more of his labor power
than they for a certain sum。
It is because he cannot get work on the same terms as they that he
is a scab。 There is less work than there are men to do work。 This
is patent； else the scab would not loom so large on the labor…market
horizon。 Because they are stronger than he； or more skilled； or
more energetic； it is impossible for him to take their places at the
same wage。 To take their places he must give more value； must work
longer hours or receive a smaller wage。 He does so； and he cannot
help it； for his will 〃to live〃 is driving him on as well as they
are being driven on by their will 〃to live〃； and to live he must win
food and shelter； which he can do only by receiving permission to
work from some man who owns a bit of land or a piece of machinery。
And to receive permission from this man； he must make the
transaction profitable for him。
Viewed in this light； the scab； who gives more labor power for a
certain price than his fellows； is not so generous after all。 He is
no more generous with his energy than the chattel slave and the
convict laborer； who； by the way； are the almost perfect scabs。
They give their labor power for about the minimum possible price。
But； within limits； they may loaf and malinger； and； as scabs； are
exceeded by the machine； which never loafs and malingers and which
is the ideally perfect scab。
It is not nice to be a scab。 Not only is it not in good social
taste and comradeship； but； from the standpoint of food and shelter；
it is bad business policy。 Nobody desires to scab； to give most for
least。 The ambition of every individual is quite the opposite； to
give least for most； and； as a result； living in a tooth…and…nail
society； battle royal is waged by the ambitious individuals。 But in
its most salient aspect； that of the struggle over the division of
the joint product； it is no longer a battle between individuals； but
between groups of individuals。 Capital and labor apply themselves
to raw material； make something useful out of it； add to its value；
and then proceed to quarrel over the division of the added value。
Neither cares