The labor world., 1922-09-02
BY w. L. GEORGE, in "The
Apple" an English Art Publica-
tion.


A cynic whose name ! have
forgotten once said that man
liveth not by bread alone, but
mainly by catch-words.
Trade-unionism is a catch
word. and today the ''refined'
classes together draw away in
aorror from the word and yet cir
Gle about it, fascinated, very like
suspicious trout round a Butcher
fly.
There is hope in this attitude, for
it conveys that a measure Of UNDER
standing is entering the minds of
ron-manual laborers: the middle
class is beginning to grasp that
working men are so closely organized
- t their unions may upset the
q ent social system: they see on
,pther side American trusts, En-
Ilrs' Federations; they watch
lib, armament and wallpaper
tEufacturers combine.
ind say: perhaps there is some-'
1g in the idea. Perhaps we. doc
.s, lawyers, shopkeepers, engineers,
= nave been wrong to stand alone. If
we do not unite we may be crushed
between the labor combines on one
side and the capitalist combines on
the other
The movement has begun. AL
ready. the actors have formed
strong union and beaten the man
ayers at the first attack; Scottish
doctors are creating a trade organ
ization: the National Union of Jour-
nalists is militant; there are STIR
rings even in the cautious realms of
the law. So 1 say: What of artists
Have they no grievances? No am
bitions? Are they so entirely satis-
fled with their incomes, their treat
- ment, their status in world society
that they need to take no common
action?
can hardly believe that the ans
wer may ne YES" It is incredible
that the thousands of painters, H.
lustrators, sculptors, engravers, mu-
sicians, dancers, writer's, ETC., in this
they are, competing against each
other for the benefit of dealers,
hopelessly insecure against unem-
ployment, helpless before disease,
lonely when libelled by the press,
too poor to- sue for payment when
defrauded:.~ :.-::--:. ;~:
I shall at once be told that trade
- ,;nionism and art cannot go together,
and easy jokes will be made. It will
a.e suggested that if artists form a
raTl Tl$union the executive will decree
ytEt no painter may work more than
our hours a day; or that the rich
Philistine must pay an extra ten
pence an hour if he expects the
sculptor to chisel him a bust on a
SUNDAY morning.
I shall be told that art is above
rules, that inspirations transcends 50
cial behavior. To all of which one
can only answer that art may be
above rules, but that artists have
seldom shown themselves to be
above rules, but that artists have
seldom shown themselves to be above
proper fees; that inspiration has a
way OF taking care of itself; and
that people who talk like this do not
understand what trade-unionism
means
Trade-unionism is too easily con-
founded with revolutionary action. II
often leads to revolutionary action
and so it should, for the capitalist
state is rigged on greed. supported
by corruption; it seeks to maintain
art as its pimp: it pays most glad. y
for sentiment, obscenity and lies; its
idea of a reward for the sincere
artist is the hangman's rope.
Capitalism will have to be crushed
with its brothers, the louise and the
rat, before the world is fit for hon.
est}artists, and the trade-unions will
10 ut . but not yet. The trade.
unions are not ready: they are still