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INEFFICIENCY
I stopped a moment to listen to an argument on the Mile End Waste。 It
was night…time； and they were all workmen of the better class。 They had
surrounded one of their number； a pleasant…faced man of thirty； and were
giving it to him rather heatedly。
〃But 'ow about this 'ere cheap immigration？〃 one of them demanded。
〃The Jews of Whitechapel； say； a…cutting our throats right along？〃
〃You can't blame them；〃 was the answer。 〃They're just like us； and
they've got to live。 Don't blame the man who offers to work cheaper than
you and gets your job。〃
〃But 'ow about the wife an' kiddies？〃 his interlocutor demanded。
〃There you are；〃 came the answer。 〃How about the wife and kiddies
of the man who works cheaper than you and gets your job？ Eh？ How
about his wife and kiddies？ He's more interested in them than in yours；
and he can't see them starve。 So he cuts the price of labour and out you
go。 But you mustn't blame him； poor devil。 He can't help it。 Wages
always come down when two men are after the same job。 That's the fault
of competition； not of the man who cuts the price。〃
〃But wyges don't come down where there's a union；〃 the objection was
made。
〃And there you are again； right on the head。 The union cheeks
competition among the labourers； but makes it harder where there are no
unions。 There's where your cheap labour of Whitechapel comes in。
They're unskilled； and have no unions； and cut each other's throats； and
ours in the bargain； if we don't belong to a strong union。〃
Without going further into the argument； this man on the Mile End
Waste pointed the moral that when two men were after the one job wages
were bound to fall。 Had he gone deeper into the matter； he would have
found that even the union； say twenty thousand strong； could not hold up
wages if twenty thousand idle men were trying to displace the union men。
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
This is admirably instanced； just now； by the return and disbandment of
the soldiers from South Africa。 They find themselves； by tens of
thousands； in desperate straits in the army of the unemployed。 There is a
general decline in wages throughout the land； which； giving rise to labour
disputes and strikes； is taken advantage of by the unemployed； who gladly
pick up the tools thrown down by the strikers。
Sweating； starvation wages； armies of unemployed； and great numbers
of the homeless and shelterless are inevitable when there are more men to
do work than there is work for men to do。 The men and women I have
met upon the streets； and in the spikes and pegs； are not there because as a
mode of life it may be considered a 〃soft snap。〃 I have sufficiently
outlined the hardships they undergo to demonstrate that their existence is
anything but 〃soft。〃
It is a matter of sober calculation； here in England； that it is softer to
work for twenty shillings a week； and have regular food； and a bed at night；
than it is to walk the streets。 The man who walks the streets suffers more；
and works harder； for far less return。 I have depicted the nights they
spend； and how； driven in by physical exhaustion； they go to the casual
ward for a 〃rest up。〃 Nor is the casual ward a soft snap。 To pick four
pounds of oakum； break twelve hundredweight of stones； or perform the
most revolting tasks； in return for the miserable food and shelter they
receive； is an unqualified extravagance on the part of the men who are
guilty of it。 On the part of the authorities it is sheer robbery。 They give
the men far less for their labour than do the capitalistic employers。 The
wage for the same amount of labour； performed for a private employer；
would buy them better beds； better food； more good cheer； and； above all；
greater freedom。
As I say； it is an extravagance for a man to patronise a casual ward。
And that they know it themselves is shown by the way these men shun it
till driven in by physical exhaustion。 Then why do they do it？ Not
because they are discouraged workers。 The very opposite is true； they
are discouraged vagabonds。 In the United States the tramp is almost
invariably a discouraged worker。 He finds tramping a softer mode of life
than working。 But this is not true in England。 Here the powers that be
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
do their utmost to discourage the tramp and vagabond； and he is； in all
truth； a mightily discouraged creature。 He knows that two shillings a day；
which is only fifty cents； will buy him three fair meals； a bed at night； and
leave him a couple of pennies for pocket money。 He would rather work
for those two shillings than for the charity of the casual ward； for he
knows that he would not have to work so hard； and that he would not be so
abominably treated。 He does not do so； however； because there are more
men to do work than there is work for men to do。
When there are more men than there is work to be done； a sifting…out
process must obtain。 In every branch of industry the less efficient are
crowded out。 Being crowded out because of inefficiency； they cannot go
up； but must descend； and continue to descend； until they reach their
proper level； a place in the industrial fabric where they are efficient。 It
follows； therefore； and it is inexorable； that the least efficient must
descend to the very bottom； which is the shambles wherein they perish
miserably。
A glance at the confirmed inefficients at the bottom demonstrates that
they are； as a rule； mental； physical； and moral wrecks。 The exceptions
to the rule are the late arrivals； who are merely very inefficient； and upon
whom the wrecking process is just beginning to operate。 All the forces
here； it must be remembered； are destructive。 The good body （which is
there because its brain is not quick and capable） is speedily wrenched and
twisted out of shape； the clean mind （which is there because of its weak
body） is s