The Llano colonist. [volume] (Llano, Calif.) 191?-1937, 1922-10-07
By Geo. D. Coleman

The American Federation of Labor
recognizes or admits the legitimacy of
Capitalism. and seeks only to anchor
ate. the conditions of wage slavery
that is, to obtain shorter hours and bet
ter wages. Socialism, the |. w. w., |
and many others, recognize the law of |
social and economic evolution and re-
alize that Capitalism must pass away, |
as did feudalism, and another system
take its place. Many call this new
system the Cooperative Commonwealth
Grant, for the sake of the argument,
this concept, the question next in order
is, Which is the best way to attain itp"
Most of those who conceive this ideal
believe that political action will be the
shortest road. They would remain in
and under capitalism, with the own
ing class in possession of the machin-
cry of the state, owning the officials
whom their money put in office, own
ing the courts, the press, and control
ling the police and army and navy, ev-
en- if they elect their men to office, do
not expect that the welI-organized own
ing class is going to allow them to be
installed? Remember the case of the
members of the N. Y. State Assembly,
legally elected-they were expelled
from the Legislature. Remember the
case of Victor Berger, legally elected
to the House of Representatives, but
not allowed to take his seat. Remem-
Der that when any third party becomes
strong, the two capitalistic parties will
unite against it and, controlling the
state governments, they pass laws that
prevent third party putting out tick
ct; and, where they do, by controlling
the polls, they throw out and change
the votes. Coming down to the last all
tentative, they stand ready with police
and soldier to make it a matter of
force and arms, rather than fair cleo
ton. So much for political action. Is
there a better way, surer way, a way
in which better conditions, security
against unemployment and the suffer-
ings and privations that come in COM
batting capitalism face to face, can be
avoided?
We claim there is better way, and
in Newllano, Louisiana, we are demon
/ strating it. The better way is co-opera-
tion-not mere cooperation for profit,
or for purchasing collectively and sell
ing at cost while we still remain I'M
der the wage-slave system of capital
ism, but integral or complete co-opera-
| tion-the collective ownership of land
/ and industries and their operation I'm.
| der board of managers and genera
manager elected by us. To face CAPT.
talism in the political field and the re.
dictionary bencficiaries Of the system
is to face set of hypocrites and ut
terIy unprincipled scoundrels, with ne
sense of honor, capable, as we know
to su bornation to perjury, and the us,
of the forms of law and trial by jury
and a hypocritical pretension that i
known as the 'frame-up." Their pres
PIRATES of Christianity, and the majorit,
of the pulpits of organized religion ar,
either dumb and silent on the corrup
tons, or blatant in their defense; Will
of the moral teachings and religion o
Il Christ they comprehend about as mucl
as a hog does of astronomy. Capital
ism holds all the machinery of the state
courts, press, and political power, an,
a host of unprincipled parasites to &C
as spies, informers, perjurers, court OF
ficials, lawyers. gunner and pimps
and to attempt to face them in the pc
litical field is all but hopeless. 1t j
true, in North Dakota political actio
took possession of the state for shol
time; but it was the Nonpartisan leagu
| bank, the state-owned elevators, an
the state-owned mill. that hit the cap
talist thieves harder than the politics
1 victory: it struck them in the economi
field The cooperative banks of tn
\ Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineer:
h, of the International Assn of Machir
II lists, hurt the old system worse than pc
II litical action. Labor has no concer
II ton of its financial and economic pow
II er, or it would long ago have take
possession of the industries and pub
lie utilities Of the country and demon
strated that political power is a secor
Diary matter and unconsequentiai. L
those who want to amuse themselvs
with political toys of dolls and monkey
II climbing a stick do SO. Once in POI
session of the industries of the cour
II try, court decisions and injunction
Il would be as effective as the Pope's bu