The house of Industry : a new estate of the realm

90 THE HOUSE OF INDUSTRY

possesses? Surely it is obvious that a political body, chosen on political grounds, attracting political minds, is helpless when faced with the overwhelming strength of a vast financial, commercial and industrial organisation. Even if theoretically we admit the omnipotence of the House of Commons, is a prolonged and exhausting struggle with the industrial interests worth while ? And if, further, we admit that in the struggle the Commons may win, there still remains the problem of the democratic control of industry, the control of credit, the abolition of the wage system, andwhat, to-day, is infinitely more urgent and important—such a co-ordination of the economic factors as would ensure vastly increased production and consumption, both at home and abroad. The House of Commons, in its majesty, might conceivably decree these things; they could not be done without a representative House of Industry.

Please observe, also, that whilst this politicoeconomic struggle was proceeding the political functions of the House of Commons would be in abeyance.

Matters, then, have reached such a pass that a great constitutional change is plainly indicated. For assuredly things cannot remain as they are. The danger of the situation is that this constitutional change may be only political, lacking the courage to separate the political from the economic, wanting the vision to see established an enduring harmony and balance between these two driving forces of our national life.