The house of Industry : a new estate of the realm

IMPOTENCE OF POLITICAL ACTION 11

economics, it would be necessary arbitrarily to make it. In maintaining that separation between the two, we are actually in the apostolic succession.

For twenty years or more, thoughtful Socialists have known that there is as yet no mechanism to bring about the industrial revolution. Certainly it cannot be achieved by the political arm. Should this shock the faith of any political devotee, I invite him to consider the case of the recent Coal Mines Act—a purely economic measure with no political significance. First there were wearisome preliminary negotiations; next came the rocky passage through the Commons; then the smooth and poisonous treatment of the Lords; then the disagreement of the two Houses; anon the polite squeeze of experienced blackmail; next arglebargling that would make a costermonger blush ; finally an emasculated measure, certainly not worth all the trouble it took, but possibly good enough to ‘‘ save face’”’ all round. What was it but preposterous tinkering? Observe, too, that the real value of the Act can only be found in the requisite power and authority to dovetail its provisions into the economic framework. There is no existing authority to co-ordinate this, or any other industrial measures. In other words, no mechanism to usher in that industrial change, so essential to our national health.