8o THE MURDER OF AGRICULTURE 

 and other evidences of combination. If he wants any- 

 thing, he is quite capable of asking for it in an organised 

 manner, which often carries conviction with it. If, for 

 example, he wanted an " Old Age Pension " scheme of 

 the kind now under consideration, he would ask for it in 

 a plain, practical manner; it doesn't follow he would get 

 it, nevertheless he would trj^ 



In this particular instance the British working men 

 have not asked for any scheme of "Old Age Pensions" 

 which would fall entirely upon the British tax-payers. 



Will Crookes has asked for such a scheme, but then 

 Will Crookes no more voices the real wants or wishes of 

 the great array of British workers than we voice the 

 needs of the wild men of the Andaman Islands. 



To say that he, and a few other advanced Socialists in 



Parliament who clamour for extreme measures, really 



voice the wishes and desires of the vast army of British 



workers is to say that which is obviously untrue. 



Old Age The British workman wants an " Old Age Pension " 



Pensions but i • t 



not Charity scheme truc enough, but he does not want charity, and 

 those who say he does simply pervert the truth. Give 

 him a scheme whereby he will himself be expected to 

 co-operate in making provision for old age, and where- 

 under generous, co-operative aid will be given both by 

 employer and State, and you will find he will respond 

 readily enough. 



An " Old Age Pension " scheme of this nature is the 

 working man's right, and the tax-payers would support 

 such a scheme, but the other scheme would be a rank 

 injustice and a cruel wrong, and they would bitterly 

 resent it. 



I 



