WILL COMMUNIST ANARCHISM WORK? Every one who has managed a~airs in_which_ Iar&e nu~ber~ of men were employed can substantiate this. L1f•::!m pnson 1s a particularly convincing proof of the truth of it-and, after all, present-day existence fo~ most people is ?ut that of a larger jail. Every prison warden will tell you that mmates put to tasks for which they have no ability or interest are always lazy and subject to continuous punishment. But as soon as these "refractory convicts " are assigned to work that appeals to their leanings, they become "model men," as the jailers. term them. Russia has also signally demonstrated the verity of it. It has shown how little we know of human potentialities and of the effect of environment upon them-how we mistake wrong conditions for bad conduct. Russian refugees leading a miserable and insignificant life in foreign lands, on returning home and finding jn the Revolution a proper field for their activities, have accomplished most wonderful work in their right sphere, have developed into brilliant organisers, builders of railroads and creators of industry. Among the Russian names best known 'abroad to-day are those of men considered shiftless and inefficient under conditions where their ability and energies could not find proper application. , That is human nature: efficiency in a certain direction means• inclination and capability for it; industry and application signify interest. That is why there is so much inefficiency and laziness in the world to-day. For who indeed is nowadays in his right place ? Who works at what he really likes and is inteFested in ? Under present conditions there is little choice given the average man to devote himself to the tasks that appeal to his J.eanings and preferences. The accident of your birth and social station generally predetermines your trade or profession. The son of the financi-erdoes not, as.a rule, become a wood-chopper, though he may be more fit _tohandle logs than bank accounts. The middle classes send their children to colleges which turn them into doctors, lawyers, or engineers. But if your parents were workers who could not afford !o let you study, the chances are that you will tak,e any job which 1s offered you, or enter some trade that ,happens to afford you an apprenticeship. Your particular situation will decide your work orpr?fession, not your natural preferences, inclinations, or abilities. !s It any wonder, then, that most people. the overwhelming majority, 111 fact. are misplac,ed ? Ask the first hundred men you meet whether they would have selected the work they are doing, or '".hether they would continue in it, if they were free to choose, and nmety-nine of them will admit that they would prefer some u!·her occupation. Necessity and material advantages, or the hope or 31 Biblioteca Gino Bianco
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