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This article on anarchist thought comes from this link.
II.
In the previous article, I stated that the tremendous complexity and interdependence of social life is leading to Communism.
The production of steel, for example, is dependent upon the production of iron ore, coal, machinery, railroad transportation, etc., whereas iron ore, coal, machinery or railroad transportation is impossible without the production of steel.
The curtailment or suspension of operation of any industry immediately affects the others. The harmonious relationships of one industry to another are indispensable to social life.
Production of any article is no longer the individual task of a single artisan, but is the task of the whole of society.
The evolution of industry shows a distinct tendency toward the co-ordination and integration of human effort.
This change is well illustrated in the development of agriculture.
Agriculture has long since ceased to depend upon archaic methods of cultivation.
The introduction of labor-saving machinery, the great contributions of chemistry in increasing the fertility of the soil, the facilities for storing and transporting perishable foods has made possible the cultivation of tremendous areas at a minimum of human labor.
Gigantic farms covering thousands of acres are too well known to require further description.
The rationalization of agriculture is spelling the doom of individualized farming and is placing the industry on a par with any other in technique and efficiency.
The growth of tenant farming, the inability of the individual farmer to pay heavy taxes and mortgages imposed by the capitalist and the state is placing the land in the hands of the bankers, leaving the dispossessed farmer in the same position as any other unemployed worker.
The banking interests are establishing huge farms operating upon the principle of mass production.
If a conflict of interests between the petty landed proprietor and the industrial worker exists, the antagonism is being liquidated by the rationalization of agriculture and the expropriation of the land into the hands of the self same class that controls the other basic industries.
The present development of society is due to the inter-dependence of industry.
The natural relations between producers and consumers are distorted by production for profit instead of for use.
The contradiction between private ownership and monopoly, and the social nature of production is one of the principle factors in the break down of capitalism.
Society must own and control industry.
Society is being impelled to adopt communism as the economic form of the new society.
Production under Anarchist-Communism will be conducted by the workers themselves through their own organizations.
The workers would be organized into industrial unions.
The basic unit of production would be the factory council which would choose a factory committee composed of the representatives of the various departments to undertake the task of administration and co-ordination.
Frequent meetings between the workers and the factory committee would give the benefit of the experience of all the workers for the better execution of the work at hand.
The rotation of workers on the factory committee would develop their capacities to understand the problems of production and would preclude the possibility of any group monopolizing their functions.
The fullest amount of local autonomy would characterize each unit.
The abolition of a centralized, coercive institution, and its inevitable abuse of power, the abolition of the wage system, the abolition of inequality and privilege destroys the leading motives for oppression.
The factory committees would act only in an advisory capacity.
No agency could be better acquainted with the needs and methods of production than those who are actually doing the work.
Having no fear of being fired by the “boss,” be that boss the state or a private individual, and having everything to gain by efficient administration, the workers would be compelled by their common interests, if by no other, to cooperate with one another.
The factory councils of a given industry would elect representatives to the regional federation of workers’ councils in their industry.
These regional councils would co-ordinate the work for that area.
They would in turn choose delegates to the national and international union of their industry.
The functions of these bodies would be to suggest ways and means of improving the quality or quantity of work, to establish technical schools, to gather and publish statistical material, to conduct laboratories, etc.
The congress of regional or national industrial unions would, like the factory committees, act only in an advisory capacity.
It would not possess the power to compel any group to abide by their suggestions any more than scientific associations can compel any of its members to accept its findings.
They merely submit them for discussion.
The acceptance of their conclusions depends solely upon their validity.
The present administration of industry contains many examples of the principle of the suggestive body.
The association of American Engineers, the American Association of Railway Managers, Trade Associations embracing practically every phase of industry voluntarily congregate and discuss the problems affecting the administration and development of their various industries.
They publish trade journals, conduct research bureaus, etc.
Their findings are not binding or compulsory.
They act as a clearing house of information for mutual benefit.
The actual problems of administration of industry must be differentiated from the question of exploitation of industry.
Administration requires the voluntary association of trade bodies and groups for the purpose of exchanging suggestions, and applying scientific methods to the production of commodities.
The exploitative function in industry demands a rigid centralization based upon coercion.
In order to exploit, it is necessary to keep the workers in ignorance, and to maintain an army of overseers whose function consists in seeing to it that the last ounce of energy is squeezed out of the workers.
Workers’ control and initiative cannot go hand in hand with exploitation.
The removal of exploitative functions of industry automatically increases the scope and creative impetus of the trade bodies.
The energy and resourcefulness of mankind is directed toward constructive channels.
It is not dissipated and warped in applying these abilities for the purpose of devising better ways of exploiting mankind.
In advocating these principles, we extend the constructive tendencies in modern industry and at the same time eliminate the destructive features which are characteristic of capitalistic production.
The problem of distribution in an Anarchist-Communist Society would be successfully solved by an extensive system of consumers’ societies, a network of co-operatives of all types which would reflect the myriad needs of mankind. Consumers’ co-operatives would undertake the work of distribution.
Agricultural co-operatives would undertake the task of supplying farm and dairy produce.
The numerous class of artisans and handicraft workers which cannot fit into the general plan of a socialized industry could freely combine into artels.
Housing societies, medical and health associations, etc. — each of the various co-operatives would be federated into national and international bodies similar in structure to that of the industrial unions.
Local, national, and international confederations of co-operative societies would harmonize the work of the various co-operatives.
Being in direct touch with the needs of the people, they would be able to accurately gauge the quantity of commodities to be consumed and would thereby supply the necessary statistics for a planned economy.
The fact that over fifty million people are now in the co-operative movement and that the movement attained such proportions in spite of the determined opposition of the state and the capitalists only serves to illustrate the vitality of the principle of voluntary association.
Society is in reality nothing more than the grouping of individuals for the satisfaction of human needs. The state and the exploiter are a parasitic growth upon the social body. They are no more beneficial than a cancer.
The various organs of production and distribution meet in the free commune. The commune is the unit which reflects the interest of all.
Through the commune the connection between the various associations is achieved.
The commune, through its bodies, plans production to satisfy its needs.
It utilizes all the resources at its command.
It endeavors to eliminate waste.
It is the exchange bureau wherein the particular service of each is made available to all.
In the commune, the “factory hand,” whose only function in capitalistic society is to turn bolt No.29 would become a MAN. For the city and the country would combine to give each person the opportunity to achieve that balance and variety of pursuits which makes for a healthy mind.
Agriculture and manufacturing would go hand in hand.
The factory would move to the people instead of the people moving to the factory.
The development of electricity instead of steam, in addition to the development of high tension lines through which power can be transmitted to any section of the country, makes it possible to bring the factory to any community.
Machinery can now be made available for decentralized production.
There is a tendency even in modern capitalistic society to decentralize production by establishing complete factories throughout the country.
It has been proven that this method makes for greater efficiency and economy.
In an Anarchist-Communist Society the fullest extension of this principle would allow for the greatest amount of local autonomy.
It would immeasurably increase the ability of the commune to become self sustaining.
It would simplify and facilitate the task of co-ordination.
Anarchist-Communism is the only social theory that is all embracing.
It provides for the fullest development of the best in man.
Here he attains his fullest stature.
He is represented as a producer in his factory or shop, as a consumer in his co-operative, as both in his commune, and as a happy creative human being in the liberty of thought and action, which only a free society can develop.
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