On Democracy – Marcus Graham (1938)

From ‘Unity: Freedom, Fellowship and Character in Religion’, August 1, 1938, Chicago

Editor of Unity:

Your special issue on “Democracy” of July 4, 1938, proved very thought-provoking. Of chief interest, to me, was the essay “The American Way” by Harry Taylor, minister. I think he might have given his study a more appropriate heading, since it mainly challenged the whole present pro-machine concept that humanity is today worshiping so much. It may interest Mr. Taylor, as well as the readers of his study, to learn that in answering a letter of an I.W.W. in the May-June, 1933, issue of Man!, I stated:

Foodstuffs… are grown only on, and with the aid of, Mother Earth. All the belching smoke of the mines and factories in the world, plus their multitude of evolved machinery, cannot produce a single head of cabbage. Nor has any skyscraper, flying-machine, or cemented pavement succeeded in giving forth as much as a tiny head of a radish! I have no doubt that the dawn of genuine freedom will see the worker discarding the cities for the country, as well as most of the machinery now in vogue. This simple life means the natural life. Anarchy is the ideal of the natural, anti-mechanical man.

To those who so often meet with a distorted conception of the philosophy of anarchy, the striking similarity of the thoughts advanced by the pastor of a church and of an anarchist editor should prove enlightening.

I only regret that in this very same issue of UNITY one finds Mr. Joseph Ernest McAfee writing:

Democracy differs from all despotic and anarchistic systems of society in making the common will and well-being the supreme arbiter of differences, the ultimate standard of values, the end of individual and social life.

Is it possible that Mr. McAfee has never taken the trouble to study the anarchist theoreticians? And if he did, can he assert that Godwin, Proudhon, Bakunin, Kropotkin, and Stirner advocate anything else but the very same virtue that he attributes to democracy, a society, as he so aptly states, that “insures freedom to each individual and social group as the prime requisite of the community’s existence and healthy development”?

I also find myself in disagreement with Mr. Victor S. Yarros’ “The ‘Revolution’ —What Is To Be Done?” Mr. Yarros likewise brings in anarchism in his study. Himself a former outspoken advocate of anarchism, he has abandoned the anarchist philosophy and now contends that “the State can be used as an instrument of justice and has been so used.”

This double-fold contention is open to question. First, the State was born out of brigandage. Its very foundation rests upon force and violence, persecution and punishment — can such an instrument be conceived as conducive to the development, growth, and existence of justice? Secondly, it would be of interest to learn from Mr. Yarros where and when the State has ever been found to execute a single act of justice out of its own volition.

Mr. Yarros comes very close to being correct when he states that “democratic government is another name for compromise.” It is indeed a compromise of democracy when it chooses to deal with and through the State, since said institution has been founded for the sole purpose of maintaining, safeguarding, and perpetuating the exploitation and rulership of man over man.

Los Angeles, California

MARCUS GRAHAM

Farmer and Worker – Thomas Judge / Marcus Graham (1933)

A letter to ‘Man!: A Journal of the Anarchist Ideal and Movement’ and the editor’s response, May-June 1933, San Francisco

I had an idea that the Anarchists were more “extreme” or progressive then the I.W.W. (Industrial Workers of the World), but I find that I am mistaken. In your issue for March, you say the only encouraging “sign of the breakdown of capitalism,” alluding to the farmer, and the only “one who actually aids in sustaining life” and then you lament that “one half of the farms of the country belong to their real owners.”

You go on further to say that “the interests of the farmer and city worker are one and identically the game,” and that “a genuine union between the two is now most appropriate.” Bunk! If I didn’t see the heading on MAN! I would think I was reading some Socialist, or Communist paper. No, the Anarchists are way behind the I.W.W., if your last issue is any criterion. I would have you know that the I.W.W. as an organization have no use for farmers except as an addition to the proletariat. When I worked on a farm, didn’t I get up at 4 o’clock in the morning and work till nine in the evening? And doesn’t the farmer (or peasant) run his business for profit?

THOMAS JUDGE

* * * *

[Response by Marcus Graham, editor]

The farmer who isn’t employing anyone is as much of a worker as any member of the I.W.W. Such farmers are as much subjected to the exploitation and rulership of Capitalism and the State as are the workers. Their interests are therefore identical, even when they fail as yet to realize it. Of the two, the farmer certainly is the one who produces the most basic essentials of life’s necessities.

Foodstuffs, comrade Judge, are grown only on, and with the aid of Mother Earth. All the belching smoke of the mines and factories in the world, plus their multitude of evolved machinery cannot produce a single head of cabbage. Nor has any sky-scraper, flying-machine, or cemented pavement succeeded in giving forth as much as a tiny head of a radish!

I have no doubt that the dawn of genuine freedom will see the worker discarding the cities for the country, as well as most of the machinery now in vogue. The simple life, means the natural life. Anarchy is the ideal of the natural, anti-mechanical man.

The tragedy of the city worker today lies in the fact that he even thinks in the terms of an automaton, no longer as a natural human being. And even most of the farmers were also looking up to machinery until not so long ago, as their liberator from worry and toil. They failed of course to realize, that, if they were to live in a free society, one or two acres would suffice for the needs of the entire family. And what farmer could not till such an amount of land with his own hands plus a few simple tools? In reality, the machine has proven an excellent means with which to enslave both the city worker and the farmer. They both need to realize their plight and the way out lies in unison with each other.

As to the Anarchist being “way behind” the I.W.W., I’d rather leave this to the judgment of others. To me, it seems that the industrial unionism of the I.W.W. and the Syndicalist idea, aim to institute the same sort of dictatorship in the name of the proletariat, under the shield of an “industrial administration,” that the Communist and Socialist rulerships are instituting under the name of the political state. As an Anarchist, I cannot therefore see any good in either the industrial or political road as a means of attaining freedom for mankind.

On the Right Road – Marcus Graham (1933)

From ‘Man!’, March 1933, San Francisco

The news items appearing on this page are about the only encouraging sign of the present breakdown of Capitalism. The tiller of the soil, the only one whose work actually aids in sustaining life, has been fleeced, nay, actually robbed at every turn. Between the railroads’ unbearable high-freight rates, the government’s bleeding taxation, the bankers’ and insurance companies’ interest, and the commission merchants’ cleansing of whatever may be left over, the farmer has been reduced to the point of an actual penurious existence.

The statistics of 1930 revealed close to one-half of the farms in the country no longer belonging to their real owners. The year 1931, showed a further increase in this direction. The year 1932 was the breaking point. The farmers, through their organizations, were imploring for relief from their oppressors and exploiters. The railroad magnates, the government officials, the bankers and commission merchants — all readily made Promises. And they saw to it that the farmers should get Nothing.

In the January issue of MAN!, an editorial note greeted the decision of The National League of Farmers that had decided to take matters into their own hands. One can only rejoice in the fact that this has now come true. The LAW, by its very nature, cannot be anything else but UNJUST. And the farmers have and are disregarding it, or making it ridiculous — by living up to it, as evinced at the “foreclosure” sales.

The farmers have realized that not by begging appeals of any misruler or promising politicians can they obtain justice. Instead, they have spontaneously arisen in every village in the grandest spirit of solidarity ever displayed in this country!

Now, the politicians are rushing through legislation that has really the sole purpose of stopping the foreclosure sales of which the farmers have made a huge joke. If the farmers will be alert, they can make as much of a joke of every foreclosure sale in 1935 as in 1933!

All the sharks upon the backs of the farmers are now promising “real relief” — whilst plotting to continue in robbing the farmer. Aided by the Daily Kept Press at their disposal, they are urging a curtailment of production to “boost” prices. The sharks’ sincerity is of as much value as the Barter association schemes now being fostered by knaves, careerists, charlatans and politicians, as a solution to the sufferings of the workers in the cities.

The interests of the Farmer and city Worker are one and identically the same. A genuine union between the two is now most appropriate. For, there is land enough whereon to grow food for the need of all. Not the curtailment of food necessities is needed — but the TOTAL EXTINCTION OF THE PROFITEERS FROM WHATEVER IS PRODUCED BY THE WORKER AND FARMER!

No further trust should be given to any promises of the politician, exploiter and parties — even when they profess friendship — as the Socialist, Labor and Communist ones. The destiny of the liberation of every one — lies within the reach and possibility of each one of us — all alike. The moment this task is entrusted to others — nothing else but disillusionment and betrayal will ensue.

The Prelude to the beginning of the Social Revolution in America has been made by the Farmers. It’s now the turn of the Workers of the cities to join hands with the Farmers in MAKING THE SOCIAL REVOLUTION AN ACTUALITY!