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THE WANTS OF TODAY； THEY WILL BE THE WANTS OF
TOMORROW； AND OF TOMORROW'S MORROW。 The struggle may
assume new forms； but the issue is the immemorial one；an effort of the
producers to obtain an increasing measure of the wealth that flows from
their production。〃
Mr。 Henry White； secretary of the United Garment Workers of
America and a member of the Industrial Committee of the National Civic
Federation； speaking of the National Civic Federation soon after its
inception； said： 〃To fall into one another's arms； to avow friendship； to
express regret at the injury which has been done； would not alter the facts
of the situation。 Workingmen will continue to demand more pay； and the
employer will naturally oppose them。 The readiness and ability of the
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War of the Classes
workmen to fight will； as usual； largely determine the amount of their
wages or their share in the product。 。 。 But when it comes to dividing the
proceeds； there is the rub。 We can also agree that the larger the product
through the employment of labor…saving methods the better； as there will
be more to be divided； but again the question of the division。 。 。 。 A
Conciliation Committee； having the confidence of the community； and
composed of men possessing practical knowledge of industrial affairs； can
therefore aid in mitigating this antagonism； in preventing avoidable
conflicts； in bringing about a TRUCE； I use the word 'truce' because
understandings can only be temporary。〃
Here is a man who might have owned cattle on a thousand hills； been a
lumber baron or a railroad king； had he been born a few years sooner。 As it
is； he remains in his class； is secretary of the United Garment Workers of
America； and is so thoroughly saturated with the class struggle that he
speaks of the dispute between capital and labor in terms of war；workmen
FIGHT with employers； it is possible to avoid some CONFLICTS； in
certain cases TRUCES may be； for the time being； effected。
Man being man and a great deal short of the angels； the quarrel over
the division of the joint product is irreconcilable。 For the last twenty years
in the United States； there has been an average of over a thousand strikes
per year； and year by year these strikes increase in magnitude； and the
front of the labor army grows more imposing。 And it is a class struggle；
pure and simple。 Labor as a class is fighting with capital as a class。
Workingmen will continue to demand more pay； and employers will
continue to oppose them。 This is the key…note to LAISSEZ FAIRE；
everybody for himself and devil take the hindmost。 It is upon this that the
rampant individualist bases his individualism。 It is the let…alone policy； the
struggle for existence； which strengthens the strong； destroys the weak；
and makes a finer and more capable breed of men。 But the individual has
passed away and the group has come； for better or worse； and the struggle
has become； not a struggle between individuals； but a struggle between
groups。 So the query rises： Has the individualist never speculated upon the
labor group becoming strong enough to destroy the capitalist group； and
take to itself and run for itself the machinery of industry？ And； further； has
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War of the Classes
the individualist never speculated upon this being still a triumphant
expression of individualism；of group individualism；if the confusion of
terms may be permitted？
But the facts of the class struggle are deeper and more significant than
have so far been presented。 A million or so of workmen may organize for
the pursuit of interests which engender class antagonism and strife； and at
the same time be unconscious of what is engendered。 But when a million
or so of workmen show unmistakable signs of being conscious of their
class；of being； in short； class conscious；then the situation grows serious。
The uncompromising and terrible hatred of the trade…unionist for a scab is
the hatred of a class for a traitor to that class；while the hatred of a trade…
unionist for the militia is the hatred of a class for a weapon wielded by the
class with which it is fighting。 No workman can be true to his class and at
the same time be a member of the militia： this is the dictum of the labor
leaders。
In the town of the writer； the good citizens； when they get up a Fourth
of July parade and invite the labor unions to participate； are informed by
the unions that they will not march in the parade if the militia marches。
Article 8 of the constitution of the Painters' and Decorators' Union of
Schenectady provides that a member must not be a 〃militiaman； special
police officer； or deputy marshal in the employ of corporations or
individuals during strikes； lockouts； or other labor difficulties； and any
member occupying any of the above positions will be debarred from
membership。〃 Mr。 William Potter was a member of this union and a
member of the National Guard。 As a result； because he obeyed the order of
the Governor when his company was ordered out to suppress rioting； he
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；