Page:The International Socialist Review (1900-1918), Vol. 1, Issue 1.pdf/58

58 possibly tell. Whether they will prove to be the same homogeneous, social organization that offered practically no resistance to the march of European troops in 1857 or whether capitalism has not yet been able to differentiate, organize and strengthen this organism until it can to some degree wield the enormous strength it possesses no man at the present time is able to fortellforetell [sic]. But the ultimate result as to China is certain, the relations which the capitalist nations of the world will play in the matter is still a difficult one to foretell.

A glance at the makeup of the predatory band may throw a little light on the situation. They fall at once into two classes according to the stage of capitalist development attained. On the one side is a group headed by the United States and closely followed by England and Japan who have run the full gamut of capitalism. The remaining nations headed by Russia as least developed in concentrated capitalism form another group which, while united on the general principle of capitalism still have some what divergent interests from the group first mentioned in matters of detail. They are in much the same position as the small shops and great department stores of a great city. All agree that private property and individual ownership and competition are absolutely necessary for the continuance of "civilization," but when it comes to the application and practical working out of those principles the little shops are forced into a life and death struggle with the department stores. Following out this line of thought it is safe to say that when fight comes upon the division of the plunder after the crushing of China the contending forces will be lined up much as here suggested.

Chicago and St. Louis have been the storm centers of the labor world during the month just past. The lockout in/the Chicago building trades began Feb. 5th, and at the present writing remains unsettled. For number of days labor and dollars of money lost, industry blocked and interests involved it already ranks among the greatest of the contests of labor, being only exceeded in these regards by one or two other great struggles. This whole contest will be thoroughly treated in our next number by a socialist writer who from the very beginning has had a better opportunity to see and understand all its phases than any other single person, and at the present time we shall confine ourselves to a few salient facts and observations.

At the beginning there were various points of contention, but as time passed these all gave way to one main point of contention,