The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1921-08-13

slightest sympathy for his work is
lacking. If it is contended that a
radical should remain regardless of
his utter absence Of sympathy with
MS views then propose that we i'm
nediately enter the ranks Of the
capitalist Republican and Democratic
Parties in order to capture their or
CARNATIONS.
Editors Note: We feel that it is
important to state here our convic-
tion that comrade Poore, in summing
up has failed to take cognizance Of
three important facts, namely: l, it
is within the last 20 years that cap
italism has fully developed; 2, that
within this same period the ceces-
siorists have been most active; 3, that
this period marks the disappearance
of free land and opportunities Of the
wage-worker 10 create an independ-
ence for himself. Considering these
facts, We must emphasize that it has
been particularly the sin of left ele-
ments to fail to note these historical
conditions and act in conformity with
them. It is not alone, today, that they
sin against the revolutionary move
ment by remaining outside the reac-
tionary labor unions, but their sin is
one Of 70 years standing. AS to
whether workers shall remain in the
unions in spite of lack of sympathy,
we feel that Lepin has given the best
apswer-"We must school ourselves
to make any sacrifices, to be able to
overcome the greatest obstacles, in
order to carry on, Systematically, and
with indomitable determination, our
propaganda and agitation in all these
unions, societies, ETC., even tho they
are the most frankly reactionary",
and serve out coats Of tar and feath-
ers to the radicals, we may add.
There are unions yet wherein the
slightest radicalism is denounced.
Shall we then await until economic
forces have created favorable en-
vironment before we begin our work? I?
The answer is that we must not wait.
! repeat therefore that under such
conditions to expect the radicals to
remain in the ultra reactionary trade
unions was to demand superhuman ef-
forts from them. Great credit is given
TO Foster for his work in "boring from
within but his own metamorphosis
was but the result of bitter exper-
ience.
Change of Tactics Now Necessary.
We can clearly perceive today that
the revolutionary workers must enter
and are entering the reactionary trade
unions. Conditions demand it and
there is no escape from it. But who
would have had the foresight to pre-
scribe and carry out this program
twenty-five years ago? 1t is COM
paratively easy to be "wise Jacob
after the event.
The point to be remembered is that
America today is not the America OF
twenty five years ago. A great change
has come over the width and breadth
of this country. A quarter of century
ago this country was asylum for all
political prisoners; today it deports
and imprisons all disagreeing with
capitalist rule. Then the great trusts
and industrial corporations were ir
their infancy, today trusts and cor
porations control the life of the coun.
try etc. Hence what appeared a viola
tion of MARKHAM principle is no viola
tion at all. The principle laid dowr
by Marx must be interpreted accord
ing to the relative economic condi
tions Of the country. The extra
ordinary natural resources here mo-
only gave the capitalists greater
profits than their European confrere'
but also gave the American workmei
a higher standard Of living than theil
European brethren. Since the content
ment Of a workingman is not absolut,
but relative, /. e. varies with his i'm
mediate desires, is it any wonder tha
an extra morsel Of bread here mad,
him conservative?
The capitalists having fathomet
American natural wealth, are now fol
lowing the laws observed by Marx
They are reducing wages from 20 t
80 per cent while the cost Of livinl
has not dropped more than s per cent
What does this mean? 1t means tina
the cost Of living is much higher pro