Debs: His Life, Writings and Speeches, with a Department of AppreciationsDebs, Eugene V. (Eugene Victor)
History
Debs: His Life, Writings and Speeches, with a Department of Appreciations
Debs, Eugene V. (Eugene Victor)
Socialism -- United States; Socialist Party (U.S.)
The capitalists have not entirely stamped out the defeated unions, that
is true. They have had the power to do this in the hour of the workers’
defeat, but they have refrained from doing it, because they are shrewd
enough to know that if they destroyed those unions, another and better
one would take their places. Is it not a fact that they had the butcher
workmen absolutely at their mercy, and could have compelled the members
to entirely withdraw from the unions before giving them employment? They
did not crush the unions out. When they had conquered they were
satisfied. They had driven the unionists back to their reservations and
they were perfectly satisfied that they should build up again along the
same old lines.
The Employers’ Association had the striking teamsters completely at
their mercy, and could, had they seen fit, have utterly crushed out
their union. They did not do it. In the closing part of the negotiations
the settlement hinged upon the alleged privilege of the teamsters
wearing their union badges, and this the Employers’ Association finally
conceded; and then the claim was put forth that the striking teamsters
had come out victorious. The truth is that they lost everything; but the
employer was not anxious to destroy their organization. He knew very
well that if he did a stronger one would spring from the ruins; that a
crushed union at least teaches workingmen to see its inherent defects.
The employer is shrewd enough to know that when you totally wipe out
organizations you drive the workers into solidarity.
The teamsters were entirely defeated, nothing left; and yet their
leaders boasted that they had served their organization. It reminded me
of the dispatch once sent from a field of battle by a general who had
been completely routed: “There is nothing left but honor, and d—n little
of that!”
It is true that there are some employers who are supposed to be entirely
opposed to unionism, even the old form of trade unionism. But the great
majority of capitalists, especially the shrewder, far-seeing ones,
unqualifiedly approve the pure and simple labor union. And now let me
show that between these two sections of the capitalist class there is,
after all, no vital difference with regard to the trade union movement.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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