Part 48

The American workers have the same opportunity. Will they avail themselves of it? The choice is in their hands.

Thus far the workers of the United States have been, for the most part, content to live under the old system, so long as it paid them a living wage and offered them a job. The European workers felt that too in the pre-war days, but they have been compelled--by the terrible experiences of the past few years--to change their minds. It was no longer a question of wages or a job in Europe. It was a question of life or death.

Can the American worker profit by that experience? Can he realize that he is living in a country whose rulers have adopted an imperial policy that threatens the peace of the world? Can he see that the pursuit of this policy means war, famine, disease, misery and death to millions in other countries as well as to the millions at home? The workers of Europe have learned the lesson by bitter experience. Is not the American worker wise enough to profit by their example?

FOOTNOTE:

"Industry in England," H. deB. Gibbins. New York, Scribner's, 1897, p. 390.

THE END

INDEX.

Advertising imperialism, 169

America, conquest of, 27

America first, 170

America for Americans, 202

American capitalists, 218 " " program of, 226 " empire, costs of, 160 " " course of, 158 " " development of, 15 " " economic basis of, 74 " " growth of, 161 " imperialism, 23 " Indian, 29 " industries, growth of, 178 " people, ancestry, 159 " protectorates, 207 " Republic, disappearance of, 72 " tradition, failure of, 12 " worker and empire, 256

Anti-imperialism, 68

Appropriation of territory, 213

Automobile distribution, 183

Bankers, unity of, 150

Bethlehem Steel Co., 132

British Empire, gains of, 198 " " position of, 234 " Labor, position of, 250

Business control, 148

Canada, investments in, 206

Capitalism and Bolshevism, 244 " " war, 225 " breakdown of, 248 " law of, 223

Cherokees, dealings with, 33

Class government, 10 " struggle, in Europe, 254

Coal reserves, 180

Cohesion of wealth, 86, 118

Competition, ferocity of, 223

Competitive industry, 75

Conquering peoples, 26