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remains to be established the economic necessity for the surplus labor
army。 The simplest and most obvious need is that brought about by the
fluctuation of production。 If； when production is at low ebb； all men are at
work； it necessarily follows that when production increases there will be
no men to do the increased work。 This may seem almost childish； and； if
not childish； at least easily remedied。 At low ebb let the men work shorter
time； at high flood let them work overtime。 The main objection to this is；
that it is not done； and that we are considering what is； not what might be
or should be。
Then there are great irregular and periodical demands for labor which
must be met。 Under the first head come all the big building and
engineering enterprises。 When a canal is to be dug or a railroad put
through； requiring thousands of laborers； it would be hurtful to withdraw
these laborers from the constant industries。 And whether it is a canal to be
dug or a cellar； whether five thousand men are required or five； it is well；
in society as at present organized； that they be taken from the surplus labor
army。 The surplus labor army is the reserve fund of social energy； and this
is one of the reasons for its existence。
Under the second head； periodical demands； come the harvests。
Throughout the year； huge labor tides sweep back and forth across the
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War of the Classes
United States。 That which is sown and tended by few men； comes to
sudden ripeness and must be gathered by many men； and it is inevitable
that these many men form floating populations。 In the late spring the
berries must be picked； in the summer the grain garnered； in the fall； the
hops gathered； in the winter the ice harvested。 In California a man may
pick berries in Siskiyou； peaches in Santa Clara； grapes in the San Joaquin；
and oranges in Los Angeles； going from job to job as the season advances；
and travelling a thousand miles ere the season is done。 But the great
demand for agricultural labor is in the summer。 In the winter； work is slack；
and these floating populations eddy into the cities to eke out a precarious
existence and harrow the souls of the police officers until the return of
warm weather and work。 If there were constant work at good wages for
every man； who would harvest the crops？
But the last and most significant need for the surplus labor army
remains to be stated。 This surplus labor acts as a check upon all employed
labor。 It is the lash by which the masters hold the workers to their tasks； or
drive them back to their tasks when they have revolted。 It is the goad
which forces the workers into the compulsory 〃free contracts〃 against
which they now and again rebel。 There is only one reason under the sun
that strikes fail； and that is because there are always plenty of men to take
the strikers' places。
The strength of the union today； other things remaining equal； is
proportionate to the skill of the trade； or； in other words； proportionate to
the pressure the surplus labor army can put upon it。 If a thousand ditch…
diggers strike； it is easy to replace them； wherefore the ditch…diggers have
little or no organized strength。 But a thousand highly skilled machinists
are somewhat harder to replace； and in consequence the machinist unions
are strong。 The ditch…diggers are wholly at the mercy of the surplus labor
army； the machinists only partly。 To be invincible； a union must be a
monopoly。 It must control every man in its particular trade； and regulate
apprentices so that the supply of skilled workmen may remain constant；
this is the dream of the 〃Labor Trust〃 on the part of the captains of labor。
Once； in England； after the Great Plague； labor awoke to find there
was more work for men than there were men to work。 Instead of workers
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War of the Classes
competing for favors from employers； employers were competing for
favors from the workers。 Wages went up and up； and continued to go up；
until the workers demanded the full product of their toil。 Now it is clear
that； when labor receives its full product capital must perish。 And so the
pygmy capitalists of that post…Plague day found their existence threatened
by this untoward condition of affairs。 To save themselves； they set a
maximum wage； restrained the workers from moving about from place to
place； smashed incipient organization； refused to tolerate idlers； and by
most barbarous legal penalties punished those who disobeyed。 After that；
things went on as before。
The point of this； of course； is to demonstrate the need of the surplus
labor army。 Without such an army； our present capitalist society would be
powerless。 Labor would organize as it never organized before； and the last
least worker would be gathered into the unions。 The full product of toil
would be demanded； and capitalist society would crumble away。 Nor
could capitalist society save itself as did the post…Plague capitalist society。
The time is past when a handful of masters； by imprisonment and
barbarous punishment； can drive the legions of the workers to their tasks。
Without a surplus labor army； the courts； police； and military are impotent。
In such matters the function of the courts； police； and military is to
preserve order； and to fill the places of strikers with surplus labor。 If there
be no surplus labor to instate； there is no function to perform； for disorder
arises only during the process of instatement； when the striking labor army
and the surplus labor army clash together。 That is to say； that which
maintains the integrity of the present industrial society more potently than
the courts； police； and military is the surplus labor army。
It has been shown that there are more men than there is work for men；
and that the surplus labor army is an economic necessity。 To show how the
tramp is a by…product of this economic necessity； it is necessary to inquire
into the composition of the surplus labor army。 What men form it？ Why
are they there？ What do they do？
In the first place； since the workers must compete for employment； it
inevitably follows that it is the fit and efficient who find employment。 The
skilled worker holds his place by virtue of his skill and efficiency。 Were he
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War of the Classes
less skilled； or were he unreliable or erratic； he would be swiftly replaced
by a stronger competitor。 The skilled and steady employments are not
cumbered with clowns and idiots。 A man finds his place according to his
ability and the needs of the system； and those without ability； or incapable
of satisfying the needs of the system； have no place。 Thus； the poor
telegrapher may develop into an excellent wood…chopper。 But if the poor
telegrapher cherishes the delusion that he is a good telegrapher； and at the
same time disdains all other employments； he will have no employment at
all； or he will be so poor at all other employments that he will work only
now and again in lieu of better men。 He will be among the first let off
when times are dull； and among the last taken on when times are good。 Or；
to the point； he will be a member of the surplus labor army。
So the conclusion is reached that the less fit and less efficient； or the
unfit and inefficient； compose the surplus labor army。 Here are to be found
the men who have tried and failed； the men who cannot hold jobs；the
plumber apprentice who could not become a journeyman； and the plumber
journeyman too clumsy and dull to retain employment； switchmen who
wreck trains； clerks who cannot balance books； blacksmiths who lame
horses； lawyers who cannot plead； in short； the failures of every trade and
profession； and failures； many of them； in divers trades and professions。
Failure is writ large； and in their