﻿The Triumph of Cunning 
 
The capitalist system, through its press, as repudiated itself once and for all time. The press that up till now has consistently defended anything and everything capitalistic has turned about face —reversed itself. The press that until recently shed tears over “our boys that fought for democracy” now announces in a brazen manner that THERE IS NO DEMOCRACY. If this be true, then our boys have fought in vain, OR NOT ENOUGH. 
In a most cold blooded manner it states specifically and unqualifiedly there is no democracy and not satisfied with that damaging admission of its own inconsistency (admitting its former statements were lies—all lies) at the same time it admits that a condition exists that it vastly different from what generally was believed to be the case. “Alas,” is seems to say, “democracy is no more.” 
Like a clap of thunder from a snowstorm the fatal words were printed in one of its most loquacious papers— one that never boosted for a defeated candidate, one that up till now has had a rep for knowing; it not for lying. 
Here are the fatal words: 
“The United States is not a democracy today.” 
“It is not a republic today.” 
“It is an Autocracy of Wealth.” etc. 
Now this paper is supposed to know what it is talking about. In one breath it speaks of our democratic ideals and autocratic institutions. It speaks of men who fought to make the world safe for democracy and then it goes on to state that the part of the world called United States is not even a republic. Did we lose the republic while we were fighting for democracy? Perhaps we didn’t fight long enough? Perhaps we fought at the wrong place? What’s the big idea of fighting for democracy in France for Germany and then hustle right back home to enjoy autocracy? What are we to think? Are we crazy? Who’s the Hoosier now? 
“The United States is not a democracy today,” says the paper. Well, what about it? It might just as well say winter is not summer today. United States never was a democracy “today” or any other day—the best it’s ever been is a republic. A republic it has been, wherein the people delegated their powers to crooked individuals and now, if the capitalist papers are to be believed (which is dangerous) it is an Autocracy of Wealth. And another war for democracy is in order according to their reasoning —we ourselves do not believe war makes for democracy. 
We are standing aghast at this terrible admission, from their OWNED mouth, for it shows that in striving for democracy we have SLIPPED, we have passed clear across a complete ERA, (republicanism) right into the lap of autocracy. This is enough to make us uneasy to say the least — it is like swimming for shore and finding yourself in midstream with the falls a short way off. We of labor should be uneasy, for when they themselves admit their own perfidy, it shows they and their agents are ready for mischief, if such a thing is possible. A democracy is an administration of the members, for the members, by the members. 
A republic is an administration of the delegates, for the people, by the officials— an organization where the people sublet, trust or delegate their power to honest or dishonest officials — if the officials are honest, the administration is good; if the officials are dishonest, the administration is rotten and the republic is bad ; in the latter case. 
An autocracy is an administration of affairs regardless of the people, for special privilege, by the few. It is an organization drunk with the power that has been delegated into their hands by unsophisticated citizens in their moments of hysteria. It is the organization of the advantage taken over trustful citizens at odd periods—’tis the organization of the Triumph of Cunning. . . 
But why am I bellyaching politically—as, fellow worker, when this Autocracy of Wealth brazenly admits what it has done to the people’s ideals, it can mean only one thing: They are now ready, to toss the people into perdition to keep their ideals company ... It means that they now feel strong in the luck of people’s organization. It means they are ready and we are not. 
Men of the woods, the mines, the mills, the factories, men of construction; let us get together in a One Big Union of Labor before it is too late— (kid grant it is not already too late—organize to take over industry the moment capitalism “lays down”— protect yourself. Join the Wobbliest Do it now!