“Share again, of course.”
This answer came derisively from several places at the same instant, and then they all began speaking at once, vying with each other in ridiculing the foolishness of “them there Socialists”, whom they called “The Sharers Out”.
Barrington was almost the only one who took no part in the conversation. He was seated in his customary place and, as usual, silently smoking, apparently oblivious to his surroundings.
“I never said anything about ‘sharing out all the money’,” said Owen during a lull in the storm, “and I don’t know of any Socialist who advocates anything of the kind. Can any of you tell me the name of someone who proposes to do so?”
No one answered, as Owen repeated his inquiry, this time addressing himself directly to Crass, who had been one of the loudest in denouncing and ridiculing the “Sharers Out”. Thus cornered, Crass—who knew absolutely nothing about the subject—for a few moments looked rather foolish. Then he began to talk in a very loud voice:
“Why, it’s a well-known fact. Everybody knows that’s what they wants. But they take bloody good care they don’t act up to it theirselves, though. Look at them there Labour members of Parliament—a lot of b—rs what’s too bloody lazy to work for their livin’! What the bloody ’ell was they before they got there? Only workin’ men, the same as you and me! But they’ve got the gift o’ the gab and—”
“Yes, we know all about that,” said Owen, “but what I’m asking you is to tell us who advocates taking all the money in the country and sharing it out equally?”
“And I say that everybody knows that’s what they’re after!” shouted Crass. “And you know it as well as I do. A fine thing!” he added indignantly. “Accordin’ to that idear, a bloody scavenger or a farm labourer ought to get as much wages as you or me!”
“We can talk about that some other time. What I want to know at present is—what authority have you for saying that Socialists believe in sharing out all the money equally amongst all the people?”
“Well, that’s what I’ve always understood they believed in doing,” said Crass rather lamely.