Government pledged to Socialism. The
unionists had shouted for Socialism, yet when Socialism brought in
labor-saving machines, when, in fact, it hit the chap who shouted, he
objected. Socialism seemed alright "for the other fellow." It was like
the old story of the Irishman's pigs. He believed in sharing alike,
except regarding pigs--he happened to have a few.

The Socialist Government was in a quandary with its mob of unemployed
baker unionists, till the voice of the tempter came again.

The Syndicate quietly whispered, "Give us a little more power and we'll
absorb them."

They got it, and got further power as the Government installed
labor-saving machinery into other concerns; and for a while the
Syndicate proved a fine "haven of rest" for the out-of-work unionists,
so that the Government encouraged it even to the extent of absolving it
from having to pay income tax.

"You see," whispered the Syndicate in the ear of a harassed Premier, "it
would be unjust to have to pay you income tax on what you have to pay
us."

The "syndicate" idea began to appeal to the Governments of the other
States, which were now all Labor ruled. The fact that the British
Government had taken over private factories and distributed all profits
over 10 per cent., gave Socialism such an advertisement that before the
war had ended, Queensland and Victoria had joined the other Australian
States and declared for Labor.

The Syndicate idea appealed to Labor Governments.

It seemed an easy way to get rid of responsibility. Of course, the time
would come when the bill would have to be paid--but that was a matter
posterity would have to look at--and besides, as one Minister blatantly
shouted: "What has posterity done for us?"

CHAPTER XXVII.

The Rise of the "Syndicate."

The failure of the Australian manufacturers' campaign had its ludicrous
side.

Prior to the termination of the war, all their talk was based upon these
war-cries--"German manufacturers must be wiped off the earth." "Kill
German trade and you kill their capacity for mischief." "Smash Germany
now for all time." So "Trade only with the Empire and its brave Allies."

It was noticeable what fraternal consideration the manufacturers gave
"the brave Allies."

As they put it ... "Those brave brothers of freedom are fighting
shoulder to shoulder with the sons of the Empire, mingling their blood
upon the fields of Europe in the battle for the world's civilisation."

So