That it has not yet remade the world is due mainly to two causes: the arrogance of those to whom money or social position gives an advantage over smaller people, and the hatred and mistrust engendered by this arrogance among the masses.
A workman in a physically fit condition does not object to working. He sometimes feels the drudgery, boredom, or discomfort of it, but if he is a skilled craftsman, his pride in his work gives him an interest and satisfaction which helps him over many hours of toil. What he does object to is to be driven and bullied by an unsympathetic and perhaps unjust overseer, who turns out the master on every occasion and lets him feel his power. He wants and sometimes admires a leader, but he does not want a slave-driver.
In war, there is the same difference between the “come on” officer and the “go-on” officer, and the same effect on discipline.
I believe that the co-operation of larger organized masses of men will not only be required in the future as in the past, but that its scale will eventually exceed anything yet seen in our history.
The key to the smooth working of such organizations is the spirit in which the enterprise is undertaken. Let us give two examples, one from the present day and one from, say, the year 2,000.
(1) A.D. 1925:
(a) Navvies required. Apply Eastern Counties Railway Co.’s Depot....
(b) Eastern Counties Railway Co., Ltd. The 250,000 5% Cumulative Participating Preference Shares are now offered for public subscription, payable as follows....
(2) A.D. 2000: