CONCLUSION 419 



competing capitals out of the market by associated 

 capitals."^ 



Able members of the Socialist party are urging 

 governments to adopt measures which contain the 

 socialistic principle, and actual legislation is tending 

 step by step in that direction. It is urged that " when 

 distress was reported in any locality the central 

 authority should see at once what work could be 

 undertaken and decide how far it should be a local and 

 how far an imperial charge."^ 



An influential committee appointed by the Council 

 of the Charity Organization Society to consider 

 measures of relief for the unemployed, etc., reports on 

 the scheme of the Local Government Board that "it 

 represents the acceptance on the part of the State of 

 an obligation of providing work for all comers."^ 



Free meals for children, partly free dwellings, and 

 partly free travelling for the working classes, are 

 already within the range of practical politics, and when 

 once the principle of State responsibility for such 

 matters is conceded, there is no logical limit to the 

 demands for State help. It must be borne in mind 

 that not only have we a proletariat such as is not to be 

 found in any other country in Europe, but that it is a 

 -broletariat with votes. Should the time come when 

 the social democracy, by union and organization, and 

 by legitimate action through the ballot-box, has 



1 " Fabian Essays on Socialism." Fifth Essay. 



- Speech at a conference with the Local Government Board (October 

 14th, 1904) by Mr. Crooks, M.P., Chairman of the Poplar Board of 

 Guardians. 



' Mr. Loch, the able secretary of this Society, in his letters to the 

 Press shows a great insight into the general subject of the unemployed, 

 and plainly points out the direction in which legislation with respect to it 

 is tending. 



