The Masses
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Wood here is calling for all working citizens to band together in order, ''"to defend what we have already gained, and to conquer more."'' Wood wants the workers to receive more than what they are currently being given. He believes that the working class, no matter what they do, are always in a losing situation. ''"We sell our labor-power to an enemy of ours; we all know that. We also buy form an enemy of ours; we all know that." The goal of any corporation is to be profitable. Wood, however, does not believe that profits should come at the expense of the working class. Although these corporations pay these workers, the corporations are also the ones that set the price of goods that the working class buys. | Wood here is calling for all working citizens to band together in order, ''"to defend what we have already gained, and to conquer more."'' Wood wants the workers to receive more than what they are currently being given. He believes that the working class, no matter what they do, are always in a losing situation. ''"We sell our labor-power to an enemy of ours; we all know that. We also buy form an enemy of ours; we all know that." The goal of any corporation is to be profitable. Wood, however, does not believe that profits should come at the expense of the working class. Although these corporations pay these workers, the corporations are also the ones that set the price of goods that the working class buys. | ||
| − | ''"Now suppose we unite to sell to each other, so that, instead of enemies of ours getting the profit, we get the profit, you and I, the union plumber and the union hatmaker and so on."'' Wood appeals to his readers by saying that instead of these corporations getting the profits, the working class would be able to get them instead. Wood tells his readers that a union would be the most beneficial way to "share the wealth" among the working class. | + | ''"Now suppose we unite to sell to each other, so that, instead of enemies of ours getting the profit, we get the profit, you and I, the union plumber and the union hatmaker and so on."'' Wood appeals to his readers by saying that instead of these corporations getting the profits, the working class would be able to get them instead. Wood tells his readers that a union would be the most beneficial way to "share the wealth" among the working class. Along with this, it puts the bosses of those in the working class in a pinch. ''"Let me say this again: The weak point of capitalism is that it must sell. A boss may cut down wages, and he may stick up prices, but unless he can sell to workingmen what workingmen produce, he's a gone dog. No sale, no profit. Sell or go bust."'' By buying and selling from each other within the union, it creates havoc in the market as it forces the larger corporations to compensate by forcing them to lower the prices in order for their product to be sold. |
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===Vol. 1 No.2=== | ===Vol. 1 No.2=== | ||
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[http://library.brown.edu/jpegs/1380056207834360.jpg '''Aid and Comfort'''] by Eugene Wood | [http://library.brown.edu/jpegs/1380056207834360.jpg '''Aid and Comfort'''] by Eugene Wood | ||
| + | ''"'Treason doth never prosper. What's the reason? | ||
| + | When it doth prosper, it is never treason.'"'' | ||
| + | Wood writes about his irritations about a Mr. Eastman, who associates himself with the socialist party, and his recent support for Woodrow Wilson. ''"If you don't mind me saying it, Mr. Eastman, I feel pretty damn sore at the way you've acted."'' Wood goes on to say how he feels that he's been betrayed by Eastman due to his support of Wilson. Wood believes that the work he has done thus far is being thrown away by someone who he thought was an ally. Eastman has gone on to support the enemy. | ||
| + | ''"We who have kept the faith, if we're whom you mean by 'the keepers of the sacred dogmas,' we who have made some sacrifices, have ripped the lining out of our throats barking against noises on chilly street-corners, we who have got up Sunday mornings at 6 o'clock to distribute leaflets, we who have had bags of water thrown on us by people who cried:'Hooray for Wilson!' the same as you, Don't you think we have a right to be irritated?"'' | ||
===Vol. 9 No. 8=== | ===Vol. 9 No. 8=== | ||
