WHAT THE WORKERS WANT A STUDY OF BRITISH LABOR BY ARTHUR GLEASON LONDON GEORGE ALLEN UNWIN, RUSKIN HOUSE, 40 MUSEUM STREET, W. C. 1. CONTENTS PACE INTRODUCTION 3 SECTION ONE CHAOS AND ASPIRATIONS CHAPTER I. CHANGE 5 II. A REVOLUTION WITHOUT A PHILOSOPHY 9 III. LABOR THE UNREADY 25 SECTION TWO THE YEAR I. THE BRITISH COAL COMMISSION 33 II. ROBERT SMILLIE 56 III. THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE 70 IV. YOUTH AT THE STIRRUP. THE LABOR PARTY CONFERENCE AT SOUTHPORT 79 V. THE CONGRESS AT GLASGOW 112 VI. THE RAILWAY STRIKE AND THE FOURTEEN .... 136 SECTION THREE THE WAY THEY DO IT I. THE WAY THEY Do IT 147 II. GENTLE REVOLUTION. 1 152 III. GENTLE REVOLUTION. II 161 SECTION FOUR WHAT THE WORKERS WANT I. WORKERS CONTROL BY FRANK HODGES, SECRETARY OF THE MINERS FEDERATION 169 II. THE SHOP STEWARDS AND WORKERS COMMITTEE MOVEMENT BY J. T. MURPHY 184 III. THEIR IDEAS BY J. T. MURPHY 201 vi CONTENTS CHAPTER PACE IV. SELF-GOVERNMENT BY RAILWAYMEN BY C. T. CRAMP, PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL UNION OF RAILWAYMEN . 212 V. THE ENGLAND THE WORKERS WANT WHEN How BY ROBERT SMILLIE, OF THE MINERS FEDERATION ... 215 SECTION FIVE PROBLEMS I. WOMEN 223 II. BOTTOMLEY 240 III. WARBLINGTON. THE OLD ENGLAND 243 SECTION SIX THE SUMMING UP 249 APPENDIX SECTION ONE THE EMPLOYERS I. FEDERATION OF BRITISH INDUSTRIES. THE CONTROL OF IN DUSTRY. REPORT OF THE NATIONALIZATION COMMITTEE . 281 II. EVIDENCE OF THE RIGHT HONORABLE BARON GAINFORD OF HEADLAM TO THE COAL INDUSTRY COMMISSION . . . 302 III. MY DREAM OF A FACTORY B. SEEBOHM ROWNTREE . . 306 SECTION TWO MASTERS AND MEN I. NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE REPORT APRIL 4, 1919 317 II. THE BUILDERS PARLIAMENT 339 III. JOINT STANDING INDUSTRIAL COUNCILS THE WHITLEYS . 358SECTION THREE THE WORKERS I. MEMORANDUM ON THE CAUSES OF AND REMEDIES FOR LABOR UNREST 371 II. THE NATIONALIZATION OF MINES AND MINERALS BILL . . 394 III. PRECIS OF EVIDENCE G. D. H. COLE 409 CONTENTS vii SECTION FOUR THE JUDGMENT CHAPTEB PAGE I. COAL INDUSTRY COMMISSION ACT, 1919 THE SANKEY RE PORT 422 II. GOVERNMENT OFFER TO - RAILWAYMEN 441 SECTION FIVE THE PUBLIC I. THE ENGLISH MIDDLE CLASS 446 II. ORIGINS OF BRITISH SOCIALISM 455 III. THE NEW CLASS OF GOVERNMENT SERVANT .... 477 IV. WHAT PEOPLE SAY 487 INDEX 507 WHAT THE WORKERS WANT INTRODUCTION THIS book tells what the workers want, in their own words. It is not an interpretation by an intellectual of what he thinks labor ought to want. It is the human record of British labor as it goes to victory, reported by an American for Americans. It tells what the explosive ideas are which have long lain un discharged in human consciousness. It tells in their own words who the leaders are, what the strikes meant, what the workers have won, and what they seek. Labor at home is an agitation in Britain it is forming public opinion. The trade unions are an integral part of the State. The great trade union Socialists are successfully fighting the sweep of anarchy from Eastern and Central Europe and the murderous bitter ness of American industrial relations. In this book the writer completes a five years study of the British. He attended the conferences, met groups of trade unionists, talked personally with the leaders. He sat through the two sessions of the Coal Commission, attended the National Industrial Conference. One of the chapters in the book is by Robert Smillie, miner, founder of the Triple Alliance, most powerful trade-union leader inEurope. Mr. Smillie answers for American readers the questions which millions of people have been asking What kind of England do the workers want When How soon How By bloodshed, universal strikes, or votes By public opinion or organized pressure Mr. Smillie describes the revolution now under way, how the vic tory will be won, and the date of the achievement. He says, It is a race between Socialism and revolution. Socialism is the only program of reconstruction that is offered...