Study Questions for Eugene V. Debs, "Revolutionary Unionism" (1905)

How, according to Debs, do (skilled) craft union workers' pay demands differ from those of "the Industrial Worker"?

According to Debs, a (skilled) craft union workers' pay demands want harmony between the capatalist and the worker where both can profit and be happy. The "the Industrial Worker" pay demands ask for all that he creates without introducing the capatalist variable. The craft union worker versus the Industrial Worker say "capitalist and the worker can be harmonized upon a basis of equal justice to both, the Industrial Worker says, "I want all I produce by my labor.". The difference being one wants to have both parties benefit while the other belives its unfair and wants everything produced by himself.

How does Debs characterize President Theodore Roosevelt? Which side does Roosevelt allegedly side with in the "class war"?'

Debs characterizes President Theodore Roosevelt as a plutocrat supporter. Roosevelt is allegedly on the capitalist side in the "class war". The reason why Debs characterizes President Theodore Roosevelt as a plutocrat supporter is he merely spent so much time with capitalist and only a couple minutes with the working class to only with their vote.

Why does Debs characterize competition in a capitalist society as "barbarous"? How does it contrast with his vision of "socially owned" industry?

Debs characterizes the competition in a capitalist society as "barbarous," due to the fact of the nature of competition that takes place in society like this. Within each class there is a competitive struggle between individuals that is described as "fighting each other like savages" which is of babaric nature. In contrast, Debs vision "socially owned" industry presents the idea that an industry is operated("production of wealth") by the community as a whole (as opposed to being an individua act). A social organization owns and regulates means of production, distribution, and exchange.

How does Debs characterize the workplace in the age of craft production, when workers could attain higher and higher skill levels? How has machine production replaced this old arrangement with a new "social" (or "socialized") mode of production?

Debs characterizes the workplace in the age of craft production by saying how man learned his skilled and then taught his skill to his worker and the more the skill practiced the higher up they would move in levels. This was also because the tools were not owned by capitalist but rather hand tools. Machine production replaced this old arrangement with a new "social" (or "socialized") mode of production because the hand tool was replaced by a machine that was controlled by men and owned by one capitalist. The machine tool is not only a social instrument but also used to a social tool.

How does Debs define the opposing groups in the "class war" in terms of "the tools with which work is done and wealth is produced"?

Debs defines the opposing groups in the "class war" in terms of "the tools with which work is done and wealth is produced" by which the rich control the masses of people because the capatalist provide workers with tools to complete their job. Debs says "the tools with which work is done and wealth is produced, and a great mass of workers who are compelled to use those". This definition explains how the class difference seperates capatlists with their tools and workers who have no choice but to use those tools.

Why, according to Debs, are industrial employers able to "rob" their employees of 83 percent of the wealth that those employees produce, leaving them with only the remaining 17?

Debs explains that industrial employers able to "rob" their employees of 83 percent of the wealth that those employees produce, leaving them with only the remaining 17 because of the tool which is the private property of the capitalist. The capatalist will "rob" 83 percent because the worker is using the capitalist's tool and without that, he could create nothing of value for the job. Debs says "And why? For the simple reason that in modern industry, the tool" saying how the tool is what controls the worker. The control is in the power of the capitalist which allows him to make the decision and rob the wealth created by the worker.

At the end of this speech, what does Debs propose as the solution to the industrial worker's plight? What sort of new awareness (or "industrial consciousness") do workers need to attain in order to achieve this solution?

Debs proposes the idea of unification of the workers in order to take control of the govenrment and overcome their plight. Specifically, workers need to attain an undertstanding of the productive mechanism (capitalism) to develop their economic and political power. As the working men become more educated they will be prepared for Industrial Mastery (gain control over an industry) and Social Freedom (move up social class or imprve quality of life). In which they can assume power and control over any industry.

How does the "capitalist" respond when workers protest their conditions? What various resources does the capitalist have at his disposal for ending such protests?

The "capitalist" only has 4 buttons to press. Allegedly the capitalist has access to ruin the working mans life if seen as a threat. First the police are called, second the injunctions are issued by the judges "allies", third state troops fall, 4th regular soldiers come marching. This is seen as the capitalists strength and power because of their wealth. And later regarded to as Roosevelts own words, back of the city, the state and back of the state the nation—the capitalist nation.

Why, according to Debs, is plenty of wealth ("abundance") available for all to enjoy? Why, then, does poverty persist?

The earth consists of ample raw materials, and with the cocmbination of labor raw materials are able to be transformed into wealth. In which the raw materials become finished products that are sold, transported within the industry and market. The working class is in dependant state in which technological innovations(new machinery) can be created at any time and replace them (leaving them unemployed).

What sorts of hazards does the capitalist system pose to young women, according to Debs?

The hazards posed is prostitution. The young women can either work at a store which has rules and wages are not high enough to support the family or move to another line of dirty work. This work creates a title for the girl which she would never be able to lose. And in the future have no choice but to continue this harmful dirty line of work.

What does Debs mean when he explains that the capitalist employer can "appropriate to himself, as a capitalist, what is produced" by his workers? Why can the employer do this?

What Debs is saying when he says that the capitalist employer can "appropriate to himself, as a capitalist, what is produced" by his workers is because of the wealth and power the capitalist has the capitalist can do, take, whatever he wants. Debs says "appropriate to himself, as a capitalist, what is produced by the social labor" which is meaning that because of power the capitalist does whatever he wants. The whole idea surrounds that wealth creates power and power allows for capitalists to act freely without worry.

What does Debs mean when he characterizes the modern industrial worker as "simply a thing"?

What Debs means when he characterizes the modern industrial worker as "simply a thing" is that the worker is mearly just another object that is bought and used. The purpose of the industrial worker is to be paid little which is "buying him" and then using him just like a slave or object. When debs says "And that thing is bought in the labor market, just as hair, hides and other forms of merchandise are bought." he is comparing the worker to any object that can be bought and used. This is creating a comparision of how a person is just there to be used by the capitalist.