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War of the Classes
of scabdom。 This； for example； has been the history of Mr。 Rockefeller
and the Standard Oil Company。 Through all the sordid villanies of
scabdom he has passed； until today he is a most regal non…scab。 However；
to continue in this enviable position； he must be prepared at a moment's
notice to go scabbing again。 And he is prepared。 Whenever a competitor
arises； Mr。 Rockefeller changes about from giving least for most and gives
most for least with such a vengeance as to drive the competitor out of
existence。
The banded capitalists discriminate against a scab capitalist by
refusing him trade advantages； and by combining against him in most
relentless fashion。 The banded laborers； discriminating against a scab
laborer in more primitive fashion； with a club； are no more merciless than
the banded capitalists。
Mr。 Casson tells of a New York capitalist who withdrew from the
Sugar Union several years ago and became a scab。 He was worth
something like twenty millions of dollars。 But the Sugar Union； standing
shoulder to shoulder with the Railroad Union and several other unions；
beat him to his knees till he cried； 〃Enough。〃 So frightfully did they beat
him that he was obliged to turn over to his creditors his home； his chickens；
and his gold watch。 In point of fact； he was as thoroughly bludgeoned by
the Federation of Capitalist Unions as ever scab workman was bludgeoned
by a labor union。 The intent in either case is the same；to destroy the
scab's producing power。 The labor scab with concussion of the brain is put
out of business； and so is the capitalist scab who has lost all his dollars
down to his chickens and his watch。
But the role of scab passes beyond the individual。 Just as individuals
scab on other individuals； so do groups scab on other groups。 And the
principle involved is precisely the same as in the case of the simple labor
scab。 A group； in the nature of its organization； is often compelled to give
most for least； and； so doing； to strike at the life of another group。 At the
present moment all Europe is appalled by that colossal scab； the United
States。 And Europe is clamorous with agitation for a Federation of
National Unions to protect her from the United States。 It may be remarked；
in passing； that in its prime essentials this agitation in no wise differs from
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War of the Classes
the trade…union agitation among workmen in any industry。 The trouble is
caused by the scab who is giving most for least。 The result of the
American scab's nefarious actions will be to strike at the food and shelter
of Europe。 The way for Europe to protect herself is to quit bickering
among her parts and to form a union against the scab。 And if the union is
formed； armies and navies may be expected to be brought into play in
fashion similar to the bricks and clubs in ordinary labor struggles。
In this connection； and as one of many walking delegates for the
nations； M。 Leroy…Beaulieu； the noted French economist； may well be
quoted。 In a letter to the Vienna Tageblatt； he advocates an economic
alliance among the Continental nations for the purpose of barring out
American goods； an economic alliance； in his own language； 〃WHICH
MAY POSSIBLY AND DESIRABLY DEVELOP INTO A POLITICAL
ALLIANCE。〃
It will be noted； in the utterances of the Continental walking delegates；
that； one and all； they leave England out of the proposed union。 And in
England herself the feeling is growing that her days are numbered if she
cannot unite for offence and defence with the great American scab。 As
Andrew Carnegie said some time ago； 〃The only course for Great Britain
seems to be reunion with her grandchild or sure decline to a secondary
place； and then to comparative insignificance in the future annals of the
English… speaking race。〃
Cecil Rhodes； speaking of what would have obtained but for the pig…
headedness of George III； and of what will obtain when England and the
United States are united； said； 〃NO CANNON WOULD。 。 。 BE FIRED
ON EITHER HEMISPHERE BUT BY PERMISSION OF THE
ENGLISH RACE。〃 It would seem that England； fronted by the hostile
Continental Union and flanked by the great American scab； has nothing
left but to join with the scab and play the historic labor role of armed
Pinkerton。 Granting the words of Cecil Rhodes； the United States would
be enabled to scab without let or hindrance on Europe； while England； as
professional strike…breaker and policeman； destroyed the unions and kept
order。
All this may appear fantastic and erroneous； but there is in it a soul of
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War of the Classes
truth vastly more significant than it may seem。 Civilization may be
expressed today in terms of trade…unionism。 Individual struggles have
largely passed away； but group…struggles increase prodigiously。 And the
things for which the groups struggle are the same as of old。 Shorn of all
subtleties and complexities； the chief struggle of men； and of groups of
men； is for food and shelter。 And； as of old they struggled with tooth and
nail； so today they struggle with teeth and nails elongated into armies and
navies； machines； and economic advantages。
Under the definition that a scab is ONE WHO GIVES MORE VALUE
FOR THE SAME PRICE THAN ANOTHER； it would seem that society
can be generally divided into the two classes of the scabs and the non…
scabs。 But on closer investigation； however； it will be seen that the non…
scab is a vanishing quantity。 In the social jungle； everybody is preying
upon everybody else。 As in the case of Mr。 Rockefeller； he who was a scab
yesterday is a non…scab today； and tomorrow may be a scab again。
The woman stenographer or book…keeper who receives forty dollars
per month where a man was receiving seventy…five is a