Book Recommendation # 42 and half : 'The streetcar named socialism'

”The papers made no mention of the book, but they misreported him beautifully. They twisted his words and phrases away from the context, and turned his subdued and controlled remarks into a howling anarchistic speech. It was done artfully. One instance, in particular, I remember. He had used the phrase 'social revolution.' The reporter merely dropped out "social." This was sent out all over the country in an Associated Press despatch, and from all over the country arose a cry of alarm. Father was branded as a nihilist and an anarchist, and in one cartoon that was copied widely he was portrayed waving a red flag at the head of a mob of long-haired, wild-eyed men who bore in their hands torches, knives, and dynamite bombs. 
 

He was assailed terribly in the press, in long and abusive editorials, for his anarchy, and hints were made of mental breakdown on his part. This behavior, on the part of the capitalist press, was nothing new, Ernest told us. It was the custom, he said, to send reporters to all the socialist meetings for the express purpose of misreporting and distorting what was said, in order to frighten the middle class away from any possible affiliation with the proletariat. And repeatedly Ernest warned father to cease fighting and to take to cover.

[…]

The first blow was aimed at these special editions, and it was a crushing one. By an arbitrary ruling of the Post Office, these editions were decided to be not the regular circulation of the paper, and for that reason were denied admission to the mails.

A week later the Post Office Department ruled that the paper was seditious, and barred it entirely from the mails. This was a fearful blow to the socialist propaganda. The Appeal was desperate. It devised a plan of reaching its subscribers through the express companies, but they declined to handle it. This was the end of the Appeal. But not quite. It prepared to go on with its book publishing. Twenty thousand copies of father's book were in the bindery, and the presses were turning off more. And then, without warning, a mob arose one night, and, under a waving American flag, singing patriotic songs, set fire to the great plant of the Appeal and totally destroyed it.” (; Of chpt X, 'Vortex') ;...The quotes are via Gutenberg'son-line vers. of the book...
 

 ; ...Comics - Story by name 'Mickey's own newspaper', from the 1930s. (Little modified) ...I wonder whether any socialist magazines of the time even considered this story for anything but to 'capitalist tricks'/, or counterfeit...yet, makes it makes still a classic for comics-story, I think.
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”...It was merely the logical development of what in the nineteenth century had been known as grab-sharing. In the industrial warfare of that time, profit-sharing had been tried. That is, the capitalists had striven to placate the workers by interesting them financially in their work. But profit-sharing, as a system, was ridiculous and impossible. Profit-sharing could be successful only in isolated cases in the midst of a system of industrial strife; for if all labor and all capital shared profits, the same conditions would obtain as did obtain when there was no profit-sharing.

So, out of the unpractical idea of profit-sharing, arose the practical idea of grab-sharing. "Give us more pay and charge it to the public," was the slogan of the strong unions.* And here and there this selfish policy worked successfully. In charging it to the public, it was charged to the great mass of unorganized labor and of weakly organized labor. These workers actually paid the increased wages of their stronger brothers who were members of unions that were labor monopolies. This idea, as I say, was merely carried to its logical conclusion, on a large scale, by the combination of the oligarchs and the favored unions. (;  from chpt XV, 'Final days' ; ...The footnote(*) reads as: "All the railroad unions entered into this combination with the oligarchs, and it is of interest to note that the first definite application of the policy of profit-grabbin was made by a railroad union in the nineteenth century A.D., namely, the Brotherhood of Locomitive Engineers. …" )

 

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”Millions of people were starving, while the oligarchs and their supporters were surfeiting on the surplus.* We called these wretched people the people of the abyss.** " ; from chpt XVI ; ...The footnote (**) reads as: " '** The people of the abyss--this phrase was struck out by the genius of H. G. Wells in the late nineteenth century A.D. ...Many fragments of his work have come down to us, while two of his greatest achievements, "Anticipations" and "Mankind in the Making," have come down intact. Before the oligarchs, and before Everhard, Wells speculated upon the building of the wonder cities, though in his writing they are referred to as 'pleasure cities.' " (X) 

 

The Iron Heel

(a novel p, 1908)

By Jack London (1875-1916)

(Recommendation VI / 2014)

/ ; Series of view-points on Commonwealth, pt II.

; Goes with mention that these '#and half'-recoms usually appear been written to some follow-up for preceded actual chapters. At this case to our former utopian-post. (...Goes without mention as well, that several others from the books I shortly referred on that, could've been selected for the main recom on this. ...I merely decided for this, as I found it generally rather quick easy readable, and from structure/form more unique if compared to most others.)

Also, I'm only to mention, that actually Jack London was among the major disappointments of my readings at the early youth. I guess, I must have (part) read some from his (several) tales that contain some heroic shepherd/wolf dog, never much liked the book, and resultatively completely passed the authors other novels. Later on, I guess I continuously confused him (as author) for some other youth fiction writer who also wrote some stories of an Alaskan husky or smtgh resembling (...likely, Curwood (J.O., 1878-1927), the story been of the Kazan, a 'heroic hound') Lot more recently, I then happened read London's best known wilderness/youth-adventure novel, Call of the Wild (1903). Sort of liked the majestic language and landscapes described on the book, but I didn't otherways pay too much more attention for London's fiction after reading that either.

Until this (recommened) book I probably never thought – like many – London for anything but writer for popular youths fiction. Likewise, similarly than perhaps many, I probably even not much imagined there actually been any american socialist workers coalitions (or, fiction written about them) during years before the years described by the Steinbeck (John, 1902-68. ...Whose massive, voluminous novels from 1930s Great Depression-era, ie The Grapes of Wrath, p. 1939 and East of Eden, p. 1952, I do remember from had read sometime on my early days). However, there was, and it seems that London was – along from been the best-selling author at the early 1900s – as well among the foremost from socialist authors on those times. (Of course there also was number others, fx Upton Sinclair, 1878-1968; Richard Wright 1908-1960,...by coincidence, he seems been born on a same year than London's Iron Heel was published.) ; But the novel, in brief (as I don't mean to devote very much time or space on this followed sequel for our preceded recom), is usually considered to London's fictional 'testament' about his devotion to socialist movement. ; ...Precisely how took place the general disclaim of this book of the public 'inheritance', and, along that also the disappearance of London's image as some socialist-author, I've not any particular idea...but I just suppose it must've been sometime around postwar years. (With the national anthems and flags flapping on air, parades etc., and also already 'on air' the soon araised suspicion about 'commies' lurking behind every corner,...etc.  Even if not too familiar of this story, I guess at least we have every reason to imagine it maybe could've happened that way.) I also noticed on someplace it written that still around end from the 1920s London was generally well recognized also to a socialist author...and can of course have remained ever since, at least in the minds of some people. But the irony of it, possibly, seems be that this discussed novel, The Iron heel, (apparently) never was actually banned – but that wilderness-fiction piece (ie Call of the Wild) was. (Due from because of the explicit language, sexually offensive tones, or from whatsoever reasons).

Like noted on our former post, the book seems been intentionally written for some alternative history from the (then) close futures (...about decades from 1910-, events described taking place on a few years postward from time it written). Again, in brief, on a few words, could be said that London aimed to offer his contemporaries a view about the history that was to be deprived from them (along w. the other chapters negated, less and better known from...). And, he wrote his 'foresee' (this piece of fiction) even before any from the above said had actually happened. But the way book comprises facts and fiction appears be, indeed, very succesfull. Sometimes, while reading it, one can (easily) fail from keep in mind that it's actually a novel you are paging, and inconspiciously begin thinkin' the story told for an actual historical realities told. 
Recommended. ...even that Londons main characters often are merely rather heroically idealised, psychologically uninteresting types. ...I-o-w; Even Burroughs's Tarzan succeeds reflect more of a philosophical thought and less of the 'superhuman qualities' than appears written in the characteristics London has gathered on his socialist leader (Everhard, depicted in the book). But, that's actually a minor fault, I suppose the reading public also quite much awaited and yearned for that kind of heroism and strong defenders for themselves...against that big bad capital. And the negation. (; G.U.J.)

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'Ilmachio', 

;  (beside left), Niccolo Machiavelli (A sculted relief).

; ...Was my original intention of accompanying this w. the suitable paragraphs and formulations  of a political thoughts and aphorisms from Machiavelli (1469-1527) and Rousseau. ...But, 'Jack-the-socialis', sort of, stealed the whole show, and so we only have these few sculpted portraits about these 'ancient' historical personnel to some decoration. (W. the usual respects and honours cherished, etc...)

Note: 

X:  'The people of the Abyss' ; ...I merely selected the final quoted paragraph of the novel (on begins of post) because from this footnote, as it explains nicely London's technique throughtout the book: Wells actually did write both of those books mentioned (on 1903, and 1901), ...on a quite similar manner to the note quoted, there's amounts information 'sunk' in the midst of text in the book, fx about socialistic theory, the poor and deprived, plus the other aspects related,...Which, sort of,  'blurs' the limits btw fiction and non-fiction. - ...For example, Wells and his (invented) term 'people of the Abyss' belongong to the non-fictional aspects. ...Even noticing that London leaves out from mention that Wells's views, like of many his contemporaries, merely were concentrated on how the society easiest would get rid of that "scum", the poorest and 'least civilized' classes (Thought for some unnecessary obstacle to an arrival of the proressive new modernist era...which was the view shared by many representants for intelligentsia and cultural elites of the time.) Term originates from Well's Time Machine, but unlike most of the mentioned London also had visited the London slums...maybe from there his author name? I guess it wouldn't be an actual name...) Anyhow, fx Ernest Everhard is purely fictional character...while possiby he also originated on basis from real persons. Likewise, was commonly discussed about expected social/technological developments, of what the idea from 'wonder cities', likely.)

Rousseau, portrait (a bust).

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; ...Concerning the raiders, sort of continuing serie of ours on recent posts, this one actually makes the a sequel of the two in about the greatest vice of all, the War. (On this case, means war against humanity...or however you care to interpret my p-o-w.)

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