`Nobody wants to interfere with the Navy except to make its organization more democratic - the same as that of the Citizen Army -and to protect its members from tyranny by entitling them to be tried in a civil court for any alleged offence.
`It has been proved that if the soil of this country were scientifically cultivated, it is capable of producing sufficient to maintain a population of a hundred millions of people.Our present population is only about forty millions, but so long as the land remains in the possession of persons who refuse to allow it to be cultivated we shall continue to be dependent on other countries for our food supply.So long as we are in that position, and so long as foreign countries are governed by Liberal and Tory capitalists, we shall need the Navy to protect our overseas commerce from them.If we had a Citizen Army such as I have mentioned, of nine or ten millions of men and if the land of this country was properly cultivated, we should be invincible at home.No foreign power would ever be mad enough to attempt to land their forces on our shores.But they would now be able to starve us all to death in a month if it were not for the Navy.It's a sensible and creditable position, isn't it?'
concluded Barrington.`Even in times of peace, thousands of people standing idle and tamely starving in their own fertile country, because a few land "Lords" forbid them to cultivate it.'
`Is there any more questions?' demanded Philpot, breaking a prolonged silence.
`Would any Liberal or Tory capitalist like to get up into the pulpit and oppose the speaker?' the chairman went on, finding that no one responded to his appeal for questions.
The silence continued.
`As there's no more questions and no one won't get up into the pulpit, it is now my painful duty to call upon someone to move a resolution.'
`Well, Mr Chairman,' said Harlow, `I may say that when I came on this firm I was a Liberal, but through listenin' to several lectures by Professor Owen and attendin' the meetings on the hill at Windley and reading the books and pamphlets I bought there and from Owen, I came to the conclusion some time ago that it's a mug's game for us to vote for capitalists whether they calls theirselves Liberals or Tories.
They're all alike when you're workin' for 'em; I defy any man to say what's the difference between a Liberal and a Tory employer.There is none - there can't be; they're both sweaters, and they've got to be, or they wouldn't be able to compete with each other.And since that's what they are, I say it's a mug's game for us to vote 'em into Parliament to rule over us and to make laws that we've got to abide by whether we like it or not.There's nothing to choose between 'em, and the proof of it is that it's never made much difference to us which party was in or which was out.It's quite true that in the past both of 'em have passed good laws, but they've only done it when public opinion was so strong in favour of it that they knew there was no getting out of it, and then it was a toss up which side did it.
`That's the way I've been lookin' at things lately, and I'd almost made up my mind never to vote no more, or to trouble myself about politics at all, because although I could see there was no sense in voting for Liberal or Tory capitalists, at the same time I must admit I couldn't make out how Socialism was going to help us.But the explanation of it which Professor Barrington has given us this afternoon has been a bit of an eye opener for me, and with your permission I should like to move as a resolution, "That it is the opinion of this meeting that Socialism is the only remedy for Unemployment and Poverty."'
The conclusion of Harlow's address was greeted with loud cheers from the Socialists, but most of the Liberal and Tory supporters of the present system maintained a sulky silence.
`I'll second that resolution,' said Easton.
`And I'll lay a bob both ways,' remarked Bundy.The resolution was then put, and though the majority were against it, the Chairman declared it was carried unanimously.
By this time the violence of the storm had in a great measure abated, but as rain was still falling it was decided not to attempt to resume work that day.Besides, it would have been too late, even if the weather had cleared up.
`P'raps it's just as well it 'as rained,' remarked one man.`If it 'adn't some of us might 'ave got the sack tonight.As it is, there'll be hardly enough for all of us to do tomorrer and Saturday mornin'
even if it is fine.'
This was true: nearly all the outside was finished, and what remained to be done was ready for the final coat.Inside all there was to do was to colour wash the walls and to give the woodwork of the kitchen and scullery the last coat of paint.
It was inevitable - unless the firm had some other work for them to do somewhere else - that there would be a great slaughter on Saturday.
`Now,' said Philpot, assuming what he meant to be the manner of a school teacher addressing children, `I wants you hall to make a speshall heffort and get 'ere very early in the mornin' - say about four o'clock - and them wot doos the most work tomorrer, will get a prize on Saturday.'
`What'll it be, the sack?' inquired Harlow.
`Yes,' replied Philpot, `and not honly will you get a prize for good conduck tomorrer, but if you all keep on workin' like we've bin doing lately till you're too hold and wore hout to do?any more, you'll be allowed to go to a nice workhouse for the rest of your lives! and each one of you will be given a title - "Pauper!"'
And they laughed!
Although the majority of them had mothers or fathers or other near relatives who had already succeeded to the title - they laughed!
As they were going home, Crass paused at the gate, and pointing up to the large gable at the end of the house, he said to Philpot:
`You'll want the longest ladder - the 65, for that, tomorrow.'
Philpot looked up at the gable.
It was very high.
