ECONOMICS AND THE WORKER

Industrial Unionist, Volume 1, Issue 5, 1 June 1913, Page 3

ECONOMICS AND THE WORKER

“ Suppose you were suddenly become possessed of a fortune, the proceeds of a decade of robbery, as you call it; the amassings of a nigger-driving old uncle of yours; what are you going to do about it, you consistent rebels?” Thus some ironical Thomas. The latter is probably a good Christian who chants the mercies ot‘ the great A. 1., the happiness to be consummated somewhere in the blue, the emptiness of life here below, and follows up his mother-in-law’s second-hand soul-case with numerous cartloads of misery. R.I.P. Blood-money notwithstanding, the unfortunately fortunate rebel would be obliged to use it only as the present economic system allows. A misanthropist is still of mankind.

But any rebellious wage-slave, despite such accidents as legacies, is so situated. His cup of Tantalus runneth over. However much he may declaim against adulteration, his food, his clothing ,his education, his whole existence, are all adulterated. To have a 30b at all,

to-day, means that someone else must go without. To be out of work is to menace those who are not. To seek work is to compete with others, and competition means lower wages. To accept wages, high or low, is to receive less than the desired full benefit of toil. To produce a profit for the boss is to provide the means towards the exploitation, not only of one’s fellows. but of one’s own self. And exploitation is life’s curse; yet, avc proAude for it. We have to, and shall haA r e to, until the Avorkers monopolise the control of their labour power, through a form of organisation that Avill bind together all workers, regardless of different occupations, and infuse them Avith stronger determination to abolish the Wages System.—A.ll.

P.S. —Should any rebel be suddenly uplifted, he might make note that the Industrial Unionist will not object to a bundle order a furlong thick, nor to a donation that Avill ruin him. It makes no apology either.