Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 8.djvu/874

 854 THE AMERICAN JO URNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

agers unite with socialists in singing a hymn of thanksgiving but foi opposite reasons. The modern organization of industry and trade multiplies dependents and diminishes the number of managers. This seems to be a clear triumph of those who are fortunate enough or strong enough to hold the reins and drive. But there is another side. Government is the creature of votes. It is true legislators may be bought and administrators may be hired by the long purse, and, for a time, the mob may be dazzled and confused. But power which depends on bribery, ignorance, and fear is on the crumbling edge of an abyss. Modern workingmen will have something to say about their income, their physical surroundings, their hours of toil, their personal treatment. They are willing to concede to the managers the control of capital and machinery, but not of their own persons. If the trade union is ruined, the alternative is the conquest of life through the ballot ; that is socialism.

The author shows that even socialism is not so much to be feared, if it is properly educated, not by articles and sermons, but by actual share in administration, as in co-operative associations and in munici- pal business. He looks for a treaty between the fair and honorable men of both parties, as in the joint agreement, in experimental exten- sions of municipal functions, and in arrangements for greater pub- licity of corporations, as well as in a toning down of autocratic arro- gance of employers and a deepening sense of partnership.

CHARLES R. HENDERSON.

The Negro Artisan. By W. E. B. DuBois. [Atlanta University Publication No. 7.] Atlanta: The Atlanta University Press. Pp. 132. $0.50.

THIS work is the most exhaustive study thus far made of the eco- nomic aspects of the negro problem. The particular phases studied are "a study of skilled work and the training of black boys for it."

Speaking of the economics of emancipation, Mr. DuBois draws some very interesting and important conclusions. He points out that after emancipation the negro mechanic, for several years, had a monopoly of the southern labor market. Three occurrences, however, soon disturbed the situation: (a) the competition of white mechanics; (b) the efforts of the negro for self-protection ; (c) the new industrial development of the South. "These changes were spread over a num- ber of years, and are not yet complete, but are the real explanation of