The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-11-10
CONTINUED nom page u

system of production which chronic definitely
capitalism the period Of disintegraton and decay The
brought the capitalists face with problem
rconsuctng their ruined economic system and they mme
daey about accomplishing this at the expense of the work
For two years after the war an prevailed
and then crisis of great magnitude developed First in Japan
reaching every other capitalist country factories were
closed millions of workers thrown out of work In the
i92i i. '-'''' "O'D
The capitalists seized upon as proper
wartime gains the workers wrest from the workers the
Comparatively wages they had succeeded in securing owing
the necessity and to smash the unions which had grown
enormously during the war period Ihe capitalists set out to
full burden of the the backs of the workers
word by reducing the workers. standard OF living The capital
lists seeing their profits reduced by war debts and the economic
crisis out reduce the standard Of living Of the workers
The trade unions led by devoted servants of the capitalists
smashed wages cut
engthenedth workers lost nearly all they had gained during
The chief factors causing this defeat
l. The postwar economic crisis not an ordinary crisis
uon in which capitalism has entered Two methods of solving
the crisis presented themselves Either that the workers would
production to continue or the destruction capitalism and the
reorganization of production socialist basis In other words
alism submitting lower standard of living to allow of the
continuance of capitalist production.
The old forms of struggle useless in face of such
situation The trade union split into national
tons craft divisions the various pursuing
combat the capitalist offensive Not only the anquaed forms
the trade union movement but also the millions of workers still
to the capitalists
g. The treacherous leadership Of the unions
during continued
the bosses after the by opposing Attempts fight
the capitalist attack.
The lessons of this period clear Only by uniting
forces of the workers nationally and internationally the basis
of class struggle policy the workers hope to defend
themselves from the attacks of the capitalists
The dsuny of the union should appar
every only unions splitting up the
workers of industry but in several competing
unions exist side by side In the United States the system
craft uniOnm vicious effects conditions of
In industry where the workers strike
other trades remain work while bosses
pieces by filling their places with scabs etc These
with their hidebound craft preudices ursdcona squabbe
and isolation enable the bosses to defeat workers
The American Federation of Labor 107
Unions affiliated to it, But this does bring unity
trade union The A.
ordnating center for the unions in this country
to settle urisdcona disputes between unions many
cases its decisions outed The 107
keep sembance Of unity by affiation with the
The A. of L. dare not attempt the organization of
lied because of the tang of rdctona disputes that
ensue.
The Executive Council of the A. F. L. merely a propa-
ganda machine maintained by the reaconay
ernaona Unions to combat devaons from the path
safe craft unionsm In politics the