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Milk Drivers； and Chicken Pickers； and after that； in pure sympathy； the
Retail Clerks； the Horse Shoers； the Gas and Electrical Fixture Hangers；
the Metal Roofers； the Blacksmiths； the Blacksmiths' Helpers； the
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Stablemen； the Machinists； the Brewers； the Coast Seamen； the Varnishers
and Polishers； the Confectioners； the Upholsterers； the Paper Hangers and
Fresco Painters； the Drug Clerks； the Fitters and Helpers； the Metal
Workers； the Boiler Makers and Iron Ship Builders； the Assistant
Undertakers； the Carriage and Wagon Workers； and so on down the
lengthy list of organizations。
For； over all these trades； over all these thousands of men； is the Labor
Council。 When it speaks its voice is heard； and when it orders it is obeyed。
But it； in turn； is dominated by the National Labor Council； with which it
is constantly in touch。 In this wholly unimportant little local strike it is of
interest to note the stands taken by the different sides。 The legal
representative and official mouthpiece of the Employers' Association said：
〃This organization is formed for defensive purposes； and it may be driven
to take offensive steps； and if so； will be strong enough to follow them up。
Labor cannot be allowed to dictate to capital and say how business shall
be conducted。 There is no objection to the formation of unions and trades
councils； but membership must not be compulsory。 It is repugnant to the
American idea of liberty and cannot be tolerated。〃
On the other hand； the president of the Team Drivers' Union said： 〃The
employers of labor in this city are generally against the trade…union
movement and there seems to be a concerted effort on their part to check
the progress of organized labor。 Such action as has been taken by them in
sympathy with the present labor troubles may； if continued； lead to a
serious conflict； the outcome of which might be most calamitous for the
business and industrial interests of San Francisco。〃
And the secretary of the United Brewery Workmen： 〃I regard a
sympathetic strike as the last weapon which organized labor should use in
its defence。 When； however； associations of employers band together to
defeat organized labor； or one of its branches； then we should not and will
not hesitate ourselves to employ the same instrument in retaliation。〃
Thus； in a little corner of the world； is exemplified the growing
solidarity of labor。 The organization of labor has not only kept pace with
the organization of industry； but it has gained upon it。 In one winter； in the
anthracite coal region； 160；000；000 in mines and 600；000；000 in
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War of the Classes
transportation and distribution consolidated its ownership and control。 And
at once； arrayed as solidly on the other side； were the 150；000 anthracite
miners。 The bituminous mines； however； were not consolidated； yet the
250；000 men employed therein were already combined。 And not only that；
but they were also combined with the anthracite miners； these 400；000
men being under the control and direction of one supreme labor council。
And in this and the other great councils are to be found captains of labor
of splendid abilities； who； in understanding of economic and industrial
conditions； are undeniably the equals of their opponents； the captains of
industry。
The United States is honeycombed with labor organizations。 And the
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 tw