The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1920-07-02
The Black Sheen.
Chapter xxxvII.
Decision.

Decision.
tt was just as Collins had expected,
Olive s reply to Jacks note was at
the psot office. And the next few days
the big man busted himself with watch
ing the boy for possible mental reac-
tions, as result of this new influence
in his life. The reactions were not slow
in coming. He answered Olives letter
the next day, keeping the nature of
his reply strictly to himself. He, how
ever, entered more whole heartedly into
the discussion continually going on
between Collins and Rudolph as the
best plans for getting the masses of
the working people into their favorite
form of industrial uionism. The neucleus
of that organization had already been
formed The Socialist Party was al
ready in existence since the year 1900.
The labor troubles that had originated
in Cripple Creek, Colorado, during the
year 1893 consequent upon the demon
etization Of silver and the consequent
influx of silver miners into the gold
fields had eliminated in series of
atrocities and crimes committed on both
sides, apparently eliminating in the
murder Of Governor Stuenenberg of
Idaho, during the winter of 1905-6.
All these phenomena were interpret
ed by Collins and Rudolph that the
time was ripe for matching the great
aggregates of capital with equally
great aggregates of industrially or
ganized workers. Both Collins and
Rudolph believed with Lowell that the
time was ripe and rotten ripe for
change, and with him they had no
fear of that which was called for by
the instincts of mankind. But Jack
pointed out that they were relying
upon their own instincts, instead of
the instincts of mankind. "Black
Sheep don't constitute the flock, "
said he.
1t was during these days, that a
storm of news was brought with every
mail, from the battle lines Of the class
struggle, and with it, Jacks argument
had less weight with his companions.
To them "Industrial Uinonism," was
the form of organization invincible, the
path to the redemption of labor and
to the resurrection of mankind.
The fact upon which Jack had based
his argument that the vast mass of the
working class was unteachable, un'
organizable, and unsaveable, was losing
weight with his companions, if ever
it had any. They took the position that
the workers had to be taught, had to
be organized, and, that then, they
would save themselves. Had they been
able to project their minds into the
future, fifteen or twenty years and
then looked hack, they would have
seen how substantially true, for the
human race, were the boys deductions
from almost purely biological data.
Jack maintained, that there was only
one thing that would ever bring the
mass into action, and that thing was
not oratory, but pressure. "Under the
pressure of necessity" said he, "the
masses will be stampedredi intersection
and whether that atcion will be wise
or foolish will depend entirely on
circumstances.
But Rudolph and Collins contended
that the pressure was upon them now;
that millions of unemployed, and the
rest working for pitiable wages, with
child slavery, and white slavery
thrown in for good measure the masses
of the people were dissatisfied with
the present order and ready and eager
to take the step toward Socialism OF
Industrialism if it were only properly
presented to them, but on this point
Jack remained skeptical.
GAS long as the masses have bread OF
even a substantial majority Of them
have a fair chance to get it, they will
take no chances with a new order of
society. You must throw a kid into
deep water if you would teach him to
swim"
While it was true, that Jack was
still pessimistic and skeptical on the
subject of immediate organization
for revolutionary action, on the part Of
any appreciable number of the working
class, he did realize that there were
immediate advantages that could be
reaped by those who did organize. As
has been pointed out the organization
has already been formed. It had even
shown the beginnings Of strength in
the harvest fields the year before
The members were spreading their
message from the soap box and through
papers, to the migratory workers in
many parts Of the country. Locals
were being organized in different
camps, and headquarters in different
cities. There were reports Of activity
from Canada and Mexico, which gave
it the character of an international
movement. Similar organizations were
heard from in Italy, France, England
Australia and other parts of the world
These things looked big to Collins and
Rudolph, to them it was the forming
Of battle line for the final conflict
and connot be said that it did moi
impress Jack. "The black sheep were
bleating the world over" said he.
On the other ahnd they watched the
belligerent attitude Of capitalism
Mover, Haywood and Pettibone had
been kidnapped from Colorado and
illegally brought to Boise where they
were to be tried for the murder OF
Governor Stuenenberg, and other i'm
possible crime. The civil, and militia
powers, were ruthlessly brought into
action. Labor had no right which cap,
ital was bound to respect. And by
PARITY Of reasoning, these men came
to the conclusion that capital could
have no rights that labor was bound
to respect. True to the law Of com
pensation, injustice will beget injustice
violence win beget violence, even O
worm will turn.
UYeara of annreaaion ~ nrpuad CnI