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becoming strong enough to destroy the capitalist group； and take to
itself and run for itself the machinery of industry？ And； further；
has 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； 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； requiring union men who
are members of the National Guard to resign； under pain of
expulsion； from the unions。 The Amalgamated Sheet Metal Workers'
Association has incorporated in its constitution an amendment
excluding from membership in its organization 〃any person a member
of the regular army； or of the State militia or naval reserve。〃 The
Illinois State Federation of Labor； at a recent convention； passed
without a dissenting vote a resolution declaring that membership in
military organizations is a violation of labor union obligations；
and requesting all union men to withdraw from the militia。 The
president of the Federation； Mr。 Albert Young； declared that the
militia was a menace not only to unions； but to all workers
throughout the country。
These instances may be multiplied a thousand fold。 The union
workmen are becoming conscious of their class； and of the struggle
their class is waging with the capitalist class。 To be a member of
the militia is to be a traitor to the union； for the militia is a
weapon wielded by the employers to crush the workers in the struggle
between the warring groups。
Another interesting； and even more pregnant； phase of the class
struggle is the political aspect of it as displayed by the
socialists。 Five men； standing together； may perform prodigies； 500
men； marching as marched the historic Five Hundred of Marseilles；
may sack a palace and destroy a king； while 500；000 men；
passionately preaching the propaganda of a class struggle； waging a
class struggle along political lines； and backed by the moral and
intellectual support of 10；000；000 more men of like convictions
throughout the world； may come pretty close to realizing a class
struggle in these United States of ours。
In 1900 these men cast 150；000 votes； two years later； in 1902； they
cast 300；000 votes； and in 1904 they cast 450；000。 They have behind
them a most imposing philosophic and scientific literature； they own
illustrated magazines and reviews； high in quality； dignity； and
restraint； they possess countless daily and weekly papers which
circulate throughout the land； and single papers which have
subscribers by the hundreds of thousands； and they literally swamp
the working classes in a vast sea of tracts and pamphlets。 No
political party in the United States； no church organization nor
mission effort； has as indefatigable workers as has the socialist
party。 They multiply themselves； know of no effort nor sacrifice
too great to make for the Cause； and 〃Cause；〃 with them； is spelled
out in capitals。 They work for it with a religious zeal； and would
die for it with a willingness similar to that of the Christian
martyrs。
These men are preaching an uncompromising and deadly class struggle。
In fact； they are organized upon the basis of a class struggle。
〃The history of society；〃 they say； 〃is a history of class
struggles。 Patrician struggled with plebeian in early Rome； the
king and the burghers； with the nobles in the Middle Ages； later on；
the king and the nobles with the bourgeoisie； and today the struggle
is on between the triumphant bourgeoisie and the rising proletariat。
By 'proletariat' is meant the class of people without capital which
sells its labor for a living。
〃That the proletariat shall conquer；〃 （mark the note of fatalism）；
〃is as certain as the rising sun。 Just as the bourgeoisie of the
eighteenth century wanted democracy applied to politics； so the
proletariat of the twentieth century wants democracy applied to
industry。 As the bourgeoisie complained against the government
being run by and for the nobles； so the proletariat complains
against the government and industry being run by and for the
bourgeoisie； and so； following in the footsteps of its predecessor；
the proletariat will possess itself of the government； apply
democracy to industry； abolish wages； which are merely legalized
robbery； and run the business of the country in its own interest。〃
〃Their aim；〃 they say； 〃is to organize the working class； and those
in sympathy with it； into a political party； with the object of
conquering the powers of government and of using them for the
purpose of transforming the pr