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provocation； may extend as far as did the general strike in Belgium a few
years since； when practically the entire wage…earning population stopped
work in order to force political concessions from the property…owning
classes。 This is an extreme case； but it brings out vividly the real nature of
labor organization as a species of warfare whose object is the coercion of
one class by another class。〃
It has been shown； theoretically and actually； that there is a class
struggle in the United States。 The quarrel over the division of the joint
product is irreconcilable。 The working class is no longer losing its
strongest and most capable members。 These men； denied room for their
ambition in the capitalist ranks； remain to be the leaders of the workers； to
spur them to discontent； to make them conscious of their class； to lead
them to revolt。
This revolt； appearing spontaneously all over the industrial field in the
form of demands for an increased share of the joint product； is being
carefully and shrewdly shaped for a political assault upon society。 The
leaders； with the carelessness of fatalists； do not hesitate for an instant to
publish their intentions to the world。 They intend to direct the labor revolt
to the capture of the political machinery of society。 With the political
machinery once in their hands； which will also give them the control of the
police； the army； the navy； and the courts； they will confiscate； with or
without remuneration； all the possessions of the capitalist class which are
used in the production and distribution of the necessaries and luxuries of
life。 By this； they mean to apply the law of eminent domain to the land；
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War of the Classes
and to extend the law of eminent domain till it embraces the mines； the
factories； the railroads； and the ocean carriers。 In short； they intend to
destroy present…day society； which they contend is run in the interest of
another class； and from the materials to construct a new society； which
will be run in their interest。
On the other hand； the capitalist class is beginning to grow conscious
of itself and of the struggle which is being waged。 It is already forming
offensive and defensive leagues； while some of the most prominent figures
in the nation are preparing to lead it in the attack upon socialism。
The question to be solved is not one of Malthusianism； 〃projected
efficiency；〃 nor ethics。 It is a question of might。 Whichever class is to win；
will win by virtue of superior strength； for the workers are beginning to
say； as they said to Mr。 Cunniff； 〃Malthus be damned。〃 In their own minds
they find no sanction for continuing the individual struggle for the survival
of the fittest。 As Mr。 Gompers has said； they want more； and more； and
more。 The ethical import of Mr。 Kidd's plan of the present generation
putting up with less in order that race efficiency may be projected into a
remote future； has no bearing upon their actions。 They refuse to be the
〃glad perishers〃 so glowingly described by Nietzsche。
It remains to be seen how promptly the capitalist class will respond to
the call to arms。 Upon its promptness rests its existence； for if it sits idly
by； soothfully proclaiming that what ought not to be cannot be； it will find
the roof beams crashing about its head。 The capitalist class is in the
numerical minority； and bids fair to be outvoted if it does not put a stop to
the vast propaganda being waged by its enemy。 It is no longer a question
of whether or not there is a class struggle。 The question now is； what will
be the outcome of the class struggle？
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War of the Classes
THE TRAMP
Mr。 Francis O'Neil； General Superintendent of Police； Chicago；
speaking of the tramp； says： 〃Despite the most stringent police regulations；
a great city will have a certain number of homeless vagrants to shelter
through the winter。〃 〃Despite；〃mark the word； a confession of organized
helplessness as against unorganized necessity。 If police regulations are
stringent and yet fail； then that which makes them fail； namely； the tramp；
must have still more stringent reasons for succeeding。 This being so； it
should be of interest to inquire into these reasons； to attempt to discover
why the nameless and homeless vagrant sets at naught the right arm of the
corporate power of our great cities； why all that is weak and worthless is
stronger than all that is strong and of value。
Mr。 O'Neil is a man of wide experience on the subject of tramps。 He
may be called a specialist。 As he says of himself： 〃As an old…time desk
sergeant and police captain； I have had almost unlimited opportunity to
study and analyze this class of floating population； which seeks the city in
winter and scatters abroad through the country in the spring。〃 He then
continues： 〃This experience reiterated the lesson that the vast majority of
these wanderers are of the class with whom a life of vagrancy is a chosen
means of living without work。〃 Not only is it to be inferred from this that
there is a large class in society which lives without work； for Mr。 O'Neil's
testimony further shows that this class is forced to live without work。
He says： 〃I have been astonished at the multitude of those who have
unfortunately engaged in occupations which practically force them to
become loafers for at least a third of the year。 And it is from this class that
the tramps are largely recruited。 I recall a certain winter when it seemed to
me that a large portion of the inhabitants of Chicago belonged to this army
of unfortunates。 I was stationed at a police station not far from where an
ice harvest was ready for the cutters。 The ice company advertised for
helpers； and the very night this call appeared in the newspapers our station
was packed with homeless men； who asked shelter in order to be at hand
for the morning's work。 Every foot of floor space was given over to these
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War of the Classes
lodgers and scores we