13. Capitalist Mismanagement
"Industries are in an appalling condition, and the employing class stand aghast at their own handiwork. For almost a century and a-half theirs has been the task to apply the economic policy of industry. Deny it as they may, the present chaos is of their making, for they have persistently and consistently denied the workers the slightest measure of control. 'Yours not to reason why, yours but to do and die' has been the policy forced upon our workpeople, even to the extent of the lock-out policy in some industries. The employers' cry has consistently been: 'We claim to manage our business in our own way, and we will allow no outside interference.' Very well, we examine these industries, solely managed by the employing class, and discover what an appalling state exists in practically every industry. Having produced these conditions the possessing class are afraid of their own production and now they cry to the unions: 'Let us come together; sit down with us and examine the present conditions of trade and commerce. …See if we cannot together save our system from tottering to its last fall.' Many of our good comrades who in the days gone by taught us to believe there was no remedy other than the abolition of capitalism seem afraid now that the system is collapsing, and appeal for a united effort to patch up the system with the aid of the present possessing class.