The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1921-04-30
UNEMPLOYMENT.
A Study Lesson for Worl<ingrnen.

: (does not aim to satisfy human needs
but to extract profit by every move
J it makes. Although the war is to
blame to aslarge degree for the
, present misery of the working class,
it is not the only cause; the peace
lis causing the present unemployment
and suffering, and it is capitalist
peace.
IO Capitalist Peace and UnemplOy-
ment.
The Versailles Peace Treaty aims
to consolidate what the war was
fought for. With all means it strives
to eliminate the conquered from
competition for the worlds markets
and colonies. But it failed to change
the nature of capitalism. Regard
less of the condition after the war,
whether in victorious or conquered
territory, capitalism still is capital
ism. The divorcing of German in
dustry from raw materials places
lit into a position where it cannot
produce commodities for export. And
France, nevertheless, expects Ger
many to pay huge sum as war in
demnity and already has spent bill
lions on this expectation from her
former enemy. France is afraid OF a
rehabilitated Germany and so every
thing is being done to keep Germany
down and, if possible, split up. The
blocking of the revival of Germany's
industry causes unemployment in
that country and revolutionizes the
German workers, who see no way
out from the present unemployment
unless capitalism is overthrown. The
same applies to the whole world:
the capitalist peace does not permit
the workers to go to work and earn
livelihood. There is another in
stance which illustrates how the
capitalist peace hampers reconstruc-
ton: the breaking up of the large
| European empires and creation Of
small independent economic entities.
Capitalist development created these
large economic units, it was neces-
sary for its very growth and exist
ence, and now, when it is still vaster,
suddenly, by its own forces, breaks
up into fragments. The Versailles
Peace Treaty, by its wish to weaken
! its rivals and fight against Soviet
Russia created a line of small,
economically, independent countries.
Where formerly there were three
large empires, now are eight small
ones. The industries and the means
of communication Of these newly
created countries must be adjusted
to their new boundary lines. This
hap-hazard scheme creates consider
able waste of energy and resources.
Each one Of the newly born in
dependencies views its neighbour as
a rival and even as an enemy. Their
governments under the nationalistic
fervor, are using all their influence
to strengthen and intrench their
own national capitalism. So they
aim to enlarge their territory on
these accounts. Creative economy is
hampered by capitalism as a system
and not by the war that is gone.
All factories could be opened and
all machines and workers, willing
to work, could be employed to their
full capacity, if private ownership
Of means Of production be elimina-
ted and goods for consumption, in.
stead of commodities for profit, be
produced. II capitalism be not killed
by the workers it may drag on an
other decade, causing inexpressable
misery and suffering to the toiling
masses. To wait until that monster
falls by its own weight, is too much
of fatalism and an objectionable in.
activity from the working class. The
present unemployment and depriva'
tion for the workers is caused by
the mode of the capitalistic produc.
tion. 1t will be eliminated only by
the destruction Of capitalism as 9
social system.
;, Capitalism is eliminated in Soviet
Russia and nobody experiences un
employment. Instead Of having al
! industrial reserve army, that coun
: try needs more workers. There pro
duction is not carried on for privat,
profit but to satisfy life's prime ne
cessities. The same system created
in other, economically developed
countries, would satisfy all reason
: able demands, would provide ever.
body with food, clothing and shelte
: and sufficient luxuries to give hap
Q piness to all.
), QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION.
n
{ y How is industry international
lied?
4 p What cheapens products unde
$ modern machine production?
81 How do means Of communica
d tion contribute towards international
y ization?
d ~ What is the basis of money