Page:George Douglas Howard Cole - Guild Socialism Re-Stated (1920).djvu/10



book does not claim to be an authoritative statement of Guild Socialism in the sense that it would be accepted by all, or by a majority of, Guild Socialists. There is, I am glad to say, no such thing as a strict Guild orthodoxy; and for the most part it can only claim to be an expression of personal opinion. I think, however, that where the matters discussed in it have been the subject-matter of actual Conference decisions of the National Guilds League, the views here taken will be found to be substantially in agreement with those expressed by the League, in which the most important of its Conference decisions are contained.

I have to apologise, to some extent, for the compression of this book. I have found it very difficult to give, within the space afforded, anything like a comprehensive statement of the Guild position, and the account is in many respects incomplete. This is the case especially