----
Jealousy, mistrust, and the lack of really competent leaders may
delay political union among workmen for a time.
But the political union must come. Bigger work must be done by
American workmen than chattering about little local wage
regulations or quarreling about hours or overtime.
The question at issue is:
SHALL ORGANIZED CAPITAL CONTROL THE PEOPLE, OR SHALL THE PEOPLE
CONTROL ORGANIZED CAPITAL AND LIMIT ITS POWER?
The workingmen are the people. They are the interested parties,
and they have got to vote together pretty soon or fight together
a little later.
THE TRUSTS ARE NATIONAL SCHOOL TEACHERS
Look at the coal strike, the opinions that it calls forth, and
notice how respectability dances and hops from one foot to the
other when the RESPECTABLE shoe pinches and the RESPECTABLE
toe suffers.
A little while ago the man who spoke against trusts and general
monopolies of public necessities was called demagogue, socialist,
anarchist, inciter of the masses against the classes, and so on.
But along comes the Beef Trust and begins to punish even the
respectable "upper" classes. Double prices for food mean a
serious difference even in a very respectable income.
Then you have the respectabilities also suddenly developing signs
of demagogism, socialism and anarchy.
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