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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 to give most for least。 Each is intent on giving less than the
other and on receiving more。
Labor combines into its unions； capital into partnerships； associations；
corporations； and trusts。 A group…struggle is the result； in which the
individuals； as individuals； play no part。 The Brotherhood of Carpenters
and Joiners； for instance； serves notice on the Master Builders' Association
that it demands an increase of the wage of its members from 3。50 a day
to 4； and a Saturday half… holiday without pay。 This means that the
carpenters are trying to give less for more。 Where they received 21 for
six full days； they are endeavoring to get 22 for five days and a half；that
is； they will work half a day less each week and receive a dollar more。
Also； they expect the Saturday half…holiday to give work to one
additional man for each eleven previously employed。 This last affords a
splendid example of the development of the group idea。 In this particular
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War of the Classes
struggle the individual has no chance at all for life。 The individual
carpenter would be crushed like a mote by the Master Builders'
Association； and like a mote the individual master builder would be
crushed by the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners。
In the group…struggle over the division of the joint product； labor
utilizes the union with its two great weapons； the strike and the boycott；
while capital utilizes the trust and the association； the weapons of which
are the black…list； the lockout； and the scab。 The scab is by far the most
formidable weapon of the three。 He is the man who breaks strikes and
causes all the trouble。 Without him there would be no trouble； for the
strikers are willing to remain out peacefully and indefinitely so long as
other men are not in their places； and so long as the particular aggregation
of capital with which they are fighting is eating its head off in enforced
idleness。
But both warring groups have reserve weapons。 Were it not for the
scab； these weapons would not be brought into play。 But the scab takes the
place of the striker； who begins at once to wield a most powerful weapon；
terrorism。 The will 〃to live〃 of the scab recoils from the menace of broken
bones and violent death。 With all due respect to the labor leaders； who are
not to be blamed for volubly asseverating otherwise； terrorism is a well…
defined and eminently successful policy of the labor unions。 It has
probably won them more strikes than all the rest of the weapons in their
arsenal。 This terrorism； however； must be clearly understood。 It is directed
solely against the scab； placing him in such fear for life and limb as to
drive him out of the contest。 But when terrorism gets out of hand and
inoffensive non…combatants are injured； law and order threatened； and
property destroyed； it becomes an edged tool that cuts both ways。 This sort
of terrorism is sincerely deplored by the labor leaders； for it has probably
lost them as many strikes as have been lost by any other single cause。
The scab is powerless under terrorism。 As a rule； he is not so good nor
gritty a man as the men he is displacing； and he lacks their fighting
organization。 He stands in dire need of stiffening and backing。 His
employers； the capitalists； draw their two remaining weapons； the
ownership of which is debatable； but which they for the time being happen
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War of the Classes
to control。 These two weapons may be called the political and judicial
machinery of society。 When the scab crumples up and is ready to go down
before the fists； bricks； and bullets of the labor group； the capitalist group
puts the police and soldiers into the field； and begins a general
bombardment of injunctions。 Victory usually follows； for the labor group
cannot withstand the combined assault of gatling guns and injunctions。
But it has been noted that the ownership of the political and judicial
machinery of society is debatable。 In the Titanic struggle over the division
of the joint product； each group reaches out for every available weapon。
Nor are they blinded by the smoke of conflict。 They fight their battles as
coolly and collectedly as ever battles were fought on paper。 The capitalist
group has long since realized the immense importance of controlling the
political and judicial machinery of society。
Taught by gatlings and injunctions； which have smashed many an
otherwise successful strike； the labor group is beginning to realize that it
all depends upon who is behind and who is before the gatlings and the
injunctions。 And he who knows the labor movement knows that there is
slowly growing up and being formulated a clear and definite policy for the
capture of the political and judicial machinery。
This is the terrible spectre which Mr。 John Graham Brooks sees
looming portentously over the twentieth century world。 No man may boast
a more intimate knowledge of the labor movement than he；