The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-05-06
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Class Distinction
A Puzzle
Happy Workmen
BY Nj. Il. Tracy

By vi. r. AId'y
The British unions are striking
for what we won a century and
half ago-the end Of class rule and
class distinction.
The British law guarantees po'
litical liberty and equal rights, but
the British social code denies them.
This great upheaval is rooted in
something bigger than wages, some
thing solder than the froth of
radicalsm.
There are no parallels by which to
measure it in this country. Our
labor is organized along entirely diff
ferent lines. We have no king, no
aristocracy, no social caste.
The average American mechanic
regards himself and is regarded as
the equal of his employer and en-
titled to a fair break. He does not
regard himself as belonging to a
class, or as barred from social, po-
litical or economic opportunities be-
cause he works with his hands.
He is q true trade unionist, will
ing to organize insofar as it may
help solve problems connected with
his calling, but utterly opposed to
the zone big union idea.
The average British mechanic re.
CARDS himself and is regarded not
only as a workman, but as unit in
a hard and fast social order.
With him, class consciousness is
an important factor.
He is made to feel that he moves
in a lower circle, that he mustn't
expect to hobnob with the lawyer,
doctor, minister, or nobility, and
that he can get along with less in
come because he doesn't have to
dress his wife and children as
though he could.
He bears burdens that his Amer
lean cousin knows nothing about.
Most Of us Americans sense this
background and the difference it inn
plies without understanding it.
We are inclined to take a luke
warm attitude, because of what we
sense and to jump at conclusions,
because Of what we fail to under
stand.
1t is generally felt, for instance
that we have nothing at stake to
warrant interference Of any kind.
In strange contract to this view
there is a real apprehension in some
quarters that success Of the strike
would mean radical tendencies on
the part of American labor.
There is a belief in other quarters
that failure of the strike would
make the open shop secure.
Such interest as we display, and
it Is amazingly slight, goes little
farther than to visualize the up
heaval as just one more labor dis
pute.
One looks in vain for an in
telligent grasp Of the social problem
involved, the revolt Of British work
ers not as so many miners. railroad
men, etc, fighting for better pay,
but as class trying to break down
the barriers Of an almost Hindoo
system.
J. T. +
American labor is frankly puzzled,
as the statement of William Green
suggests.
1t would like to see the miners
win. Tt believes they are underpaid
and justified in resisting a reduction
Of wages.
On the other hand, American labor
does not believe in a general strike
and does not care to express sym
pathy with a general strike.
This all shows how far we have
moved from the British system not
only In politics, but in industrial re-
lations.
T.
A radical speaker told the British
Independent labor party not so long
ago that the time had come to strike
IL the party wanted to force the gov
ernment to adopt more Socialist
measures.
lie said that capital was learning
fast and that if the labor party per-
mitted it to go on learning it would
presently grant workers sufficient
pay and sufficient material comforts
to make them doubt the vantages of
socialism.
That is about what has happened
in America. Our workers are too
well off under the prevailing order
to want a change.
They have more automobiles in
proportion to their number than
British workers have bicycles.
They enjoy the privilege Of climb
ing just as high as ambition and
ability can carry them.
That is why the lone big union"
idea finds no favor in this country
and why a general strike is practi.
CallV impOssible.