The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1914-01-22
Benevolent O. Fcudalism: An Experiment

1 SumeS to spend his money in an I'M
PROPER MANNER, i. e., in a manner
inimical to the interests of the master,
or not to his liking: Say, for example,
if he should spend part of it for So
cialist literature, or for the purpose
of furthering some organization of
workers, "HE WILL IMMEDIATELY
CEASE TO BE A BENEFICIARY UN-
| DER THE PLAN"
l can think of nothing that would
strengthen this "plan" as a sucker
breeding scheme, unless it could be
arranged so that the informer would
receive the share of profits" formerly
allowed to the victim. Perhaps Mr.
Ford, in the fullness of his heart, has
overlooked this, or perhaps he be-
lieves there are so many suckers it
will not be necessary to pay a none
tary reward for class treason.
, The most of us insist that Social
ism is INEVITABLE, and is the
NEXT logical step in economic evo-
luton; yet there are those who are
continually talking about what they
are pleased to call benevolent
feadualism." To such as hold to this
view of the matter, this experiment
OF Ford's will doubtless appear as a
sample, on small scale, of what we
may expect as a general proposition
in the not far distant future. For it
was said of old, "The masters will do
anything rather than get off our
backs.' -
Personally, I have no faith in this
benevolent feudalism" idea. For,
though it works fairly well in widely
isolated instances, and tends to allay,
for time, the manifestations of dis
content, of the weak kneed and shall
low minded, or at least, that part of
them that are lucky enough to get
job, and renders the work of the agita-
tor more difficult in that particular
locality, or industry, it cannot be
practiced on a large scale, or as a
basic principle, or feature of society.
The hope of the workers securing
a larger share of PROFITS would ma
turally be an incentive to redoubled
effort. The intensified activity, and
increased productivity of
those employed, must necessarily find
a counterpoise in an increased army
of unemployed And this feature of
the matter MUST BE RECKONED
WITH.
This army of unemployed is al
ready beginning to growl, and 1t in
sists on EATING. Also, the size of it
is, even now, larger than is compati-
BILE with peace and quiet. Already Git
is reported) they have been rude
enough to throw bricks and cobble
the windows of phil
Ford's automobile factory.
What then could we logically expect
if any considerable numbers of en-
ployers should undertake Mr. Ford's
plan? Imagine, If you can, what would
happen if the mine owners should
adopt this plan. And, because of the
increased productivity of the workers,
thereto by the hope of
LARGER PROFITS it should become
to lay off indefinitely, say
one-third of them. What if the rail-
roads should adopt such plan? And
the lumber barons, and the wooden
The subject is not a pleasant one,
and l would rather not dwell upon it,
lest some comrade, or some Citizen"
accuse me of "inclting to INSANE
direct action" But, at any rate, l
believe that a calm consideration of
Mr.. Fords "plan" will convince any
worker that it is NOT a
harbinger Of a rapidly approaching
millennium. Let us say rather, that it
presages storm and stress. A down
rushing Of the old, an upheaval of the
new. 1t is capitalism's last stand. A
forlorn, and also foolish hope.