The monthly IRISH POLITICAL REVIEW incorporates LABOUR COMMENT and its current issue reprints the 1898 piece by James Connolly “The Roots of Modern War”
At the time, he said “The great industrial nations of the world, driven on by their moneyed classes, themselves driven onby their own machinery, now front each other in the Far East, and, with sword in hand, threaten to send the armed millions of Europe in terrible and bloody conflict, in order to decide which shall have the right to force upon John Chinaman (sic) the goods which his European brother produces.”
Connolly had already noted that every new labour-saving machine reduced the number of workers needed.
.An advertisement dated before the introduction of Conscription in England and probably when Connolly was still alive hailed one labour-saving device and should tell us much about democracy, as understood by those directing British affairs-
“Send your chauffeur to the front, and buy a self-starting BUICK car”
The advertisement was from General Motors (Europe) Limited, 135 Long Acre, London W.C.
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