The Capitalist Press

Industrial Unionist, Volume 1, Issue 1, 1 February 1913, Page 1

The Capitalist Press

Labour gave birth to Capital, and Capital must ever be dependent on Labour for the continuation of its existence. The Capitalist Class have all they possess, material- or otherwise, through the energies of the Working Class. But the ‘Working Class may refuse to expend those energies at any time. The Capitalist Class hold; sway only through the servility of the Working Class. Wdien slaves annul their masters’ power they cease to be slaves. It was only Their mean submissiveness that allowed them, who were many, to pe dominated by others, who were /few.. It is only the servility of tjhe Working Class, as a whole, thsjf approves the domination of thje Capitalist Class. The toilers, hoyrever, are growing aware of the power 1 ' they might wield, the Capitalist Class have long beengiwar le of it. But so long as their is divided, the workers clannot wield that power and overthrow the enslaving rule of the Capitalist Class. Hence, the Capitalist Class seek, by every means, to prevent Working Class consolidation, to combat the growth of Industrial; Unionism. This is plainly to| be; seen in the tactics of the Press,! thej organ of Capitalism. The Strike is the natural fighting weapon of the Working Class. The Press, the clarion of Capitalism, the Strike. •) If the Strike is so harmful to the ! workers—and the Press ’say,s that] it is harmful to the workers—why do not the Capitalists urge the workers to strike f For, the domination ot the Capitalist Class must depend on the weakness of the Working Class. If the Strike is so harmful to the workers, surely the _ Capitalists would advocate the Strike. But instead of advocating it they condemn it. Why ? Because they, consider the interests of the workers as opposed to their own f No ! But because they consider their own interests, as opposed to the interests of the workers.

The Strike is a weapon the. Capitalists fear. It is their nightmare. It is a cloud that, for them, has no silver lining. A Social General Strike could overthrow Capitalism, that dark system wherein Poverty is crowned King of Men. Therefore, the Press, the Capitalist Press, the patron of Truth, the Omniscient, urges the workers to arbitrate, to be reconciliatory, to be peaceful one towards another, to be loyal to masters, to reverence the flag, to do anything, in fact, but strike. . The Press knows that the Strike is the workers’ onlv fighting chance, that it is the deadliest enemy the Capitalist has. So the Press condemns it. The Capitalist Class fear the or-

ganisation of the workers into anything but small unions. They know that small unions are harmless to the interests of Capital. Put the organisation of the workers into a big union, a comprehensive union, is another matter. An Industrial Union, a Big Union, a Lnion of the Whole Working Class 'could make possible the organisalon of a Social General Strike—and the Capitalists know that that would be the end of the regime of Capita 1 And, like all despots, marking in menace of their power, they fear, in their coward hearts, that tlic workers would do to them

as they had done to the workers—that they would be clubbed, kicked, \ killed; that the ignominies suffered erstwhile by the workers would, out Ct revenge, be transferred to tli in, the Capitalists. Well, l6t them think it ! “The fear o’ Hell’s a hangman’s whip, To hand the wretch i’ order,” The Press, therefore, condemns Industrial Unionism, and in its

condemnation has debased itself so utterly that the workers have realised its mission as an organ of oppression.

The toiler is not the ignoramus he was once upon a time. An oppressive system has supplied him with a weapon against itself. It is not easy nowadays to dangle him on a string of lies. He has stood by the ponderous machine, and has learned somewhat of its grim logic. He has been on the outback, and has seen Nature contested and conquered. He has seen a picture, somewhere, or a sculpture, or read a written line, executed with cunning artistry by some seer, and has perceived, dimly maybe, but, nevertheless, perceived, that the sum of life should not be cast in pounds, shillings and pence. But. too, he has listened to the grim, iron, incontestable logic of the economist, and has learned that, so long as this scheme of things remains entire, he is little .more than an article for sale, the price of which is reckoned in terms of money, and regulated by the conditions of a ruthless market. The awakened intelligence of the workers is growing. The Press knows it, and fears it, and dares no longer appeal directly to the workers’ intelligence. It must appeal to their hereditary weaknesses, and does. To prevent Working Class solidarity the Press endeavours to spread disruption by arousing certain prejudices—racial, religious, political or patriotic. But the Press may do its worst, may rave, or babble, to its heart’s content. When once their true economic position becomes known to them, the workers will he fooled no longer. Their aspirations arc revolutionary and true; the doctrine of economic freedom, incontrovertible.

The Capitalist Press has lied, and better lied, it has misrepresented tile workers whenever fighting for a little of their own. It has wilfully done this, and the work-

ers are sensible enough' to see it—and will act accordingly. A household phrase lias arisen:—

“ You don’t believe the newspapers. surely - ” And tlie answer invariable is: “No!”

The Industrial Unionist has made a note of this—and a resolution. We can afford to be truthful, for we have nothing to lose.