the realms of industry such political struggles as might develop later on would not have much meaning. With this end in view, the deliberate prevention of the revolution, a conference was opened in Berlin the first of November, just a few days before the Kaiser fell. It was the most extensive and inclusive gathering of its type ever held anywhere. On the one side were the representatives of all the great employers' associations, headed by Hugo Stinnes, and on the other side the leaders of all the big trade unions, headed by Karl Legien.[1] It was the whole capitalist class of Germany dealing collectively with the whole working class. Never had any country seen a similar situation before.
The conference lasted until November 15th. As the two great forces worked together, consciously deciding the terms on which capitalism should be allowed to live, political turmoil raged all over the country. The revolution broke out at Kiel and stormed across many cities. Soviets were set up, first in the single towns, then for all Germany. The old regime was destroyed, the conference in Berlin even being interrupted by the sound of the workers' machine guns finishing off the last defenders of the Kaiser. On November 15th, only six days after the downfall of the monarchy, the conference completed its work and gave to the world the following, the most important labor document ever written. We quote it in full:
The Agreement Between The Employers' And
Workers' Organizations, November 15th, 1918
The large employers' organizations and the trade unions agree to the following:
1. The trade unions are recognized a as the industrial representatives of the working class.
2. Any limitation of the workers' right to organize is not permissible.
3. The employers and employers' organizations will give
- ↑ The Hirsch-Duncker, and the Christian trade unions were represented, as well as the Socialist unions. The small Syndicalist unions, however, took no part in the conference.`
