Page:William Ernst Trautmann - Industrial Unionism (1908).djvu/8

branches of workers in those industries; all made common cause, all shared in the achievements; all would have suffered in common hardships in case of prolongation of the conflict, and all were prepared to act as a united, well-drilled body when the interests of their fellow workers in a kindred institution had to be protected. But because they had given a drastic display of the fighting strength and power of their industrial organization, the capitalists in other industries knew that the workers were not playing "a bluff game of chance," and the strategical advantages gained could be still more fortified by the constant vigilance exercised and preparedness for any emergency, that would arise.

"But," our critics will say, "this display of suddenly aroused unity can be observed every season among the thousands of clothing workers in the various big cities of North America. Thousands of downtrodden workers act together as if they had been preparing and organizing for a long while in anticipation of an impending conflict."

But there is a repetition at the beginning of every season, the same demands followed by the same claims of sweeping victories. The sweatshop system, according to proclamations, was time and again abolished as the condition