INDUSTRIAL PEACE OR CLASS WAR? 73 
not for the reason ot any squeamish repugnance to 
more drastic courses, but solely because it offers 
what I regard as the only course which will possibly 
lead to good results. 
Assume that the continuance of industrial strife, 
manifested in the strike and lockout, offers any 
higher hope of betterment than Revolution as 
manifested by the Russian Soviets system. No 
war, class or other, can be fought without disci- 
plined armies and adequate equipment. With 
these, but without capable captaincy and leadership, 
success is as far off as ever. With this in view I 
invite consideration of organised labour, as it is 
to-day; for the trade unions must form the militant 
force in the class war, if it has to be fought in the 
industrial field. 
No specious platitudinising, no dishonest eva- 
sions of the truth by paid trade union officialism, 
will get us away from the disconcerting fact that 
our trade unions are in a bad way and are steadily 
drifting from bad to worse. The last issued 
reports of the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies 
is surely veracious and unbiassed. It is with more 
regret than satisfaction that I quote from it now, 
but it would be a gross disservice to ignore its 
ugly implications: 
* During the course of examination it was found 
necessary to send back a number of Returns for 
correction, and in certain cases considerable diffi- 
culty was experienced in securing correct accounts. 
The Unions concerned were urged to obtain the 
assistance of qualified accountants. Generally