Graham R (Ed.) - Anarchism - A Documentary History of Libertarian Ideas Volume One - From Anarchy to Anarchism (300 CE to 1939)

284 / ANARCHISM
The coming revolution is the revolution for matriarchy Imother right]. It does
not matter under what outward form and by what means it comes about.
79. Gustav Landauer: For Socialism (1911)
In his 191 1 publication. For Socialism. Glistav Landauer rejects the essentially Marxist notion
that capitalist prodllction processes and modem technology are progressive fo rces that are preparing
the way for the trillmph of socialism. The following selections are taken from the David
j. Parent translation pllblished by Telos Press (Sf. LOllis: 1978). reprinted with the kind permission
oj the pllblisher.
THE DECREASE OF WORKING HOURS creates longer free time for the workers. However
much one may rejoice at this fact. one must not ignore what results such
achievements have often had: greater exploitation of the workers' strength, increased
intensity of work. Often the highly capitalized entrepreneur, e.g., a large
stock company, has every reason to rejoice over the workers' victory. All entrepreneurs
of a certain sector have, for instance, been forced to shorten working hours,
but the large enterprises are often able to compensate for these losses by introducing
new machines which chain the worker even more constantly in the service of the
high-speed machinery ...
The industrialist will, moreover, in order to regain what the shortening of the
working time takes from him, not even have to modify the mechanical apparatus of
his enterprise. In the factory there is an additional mechanism not constructed of
iron and steel: the work system. A few new regulations, a few new supervisory and
foreman positions often speed lip