Air Trust

by George Allan England

  Produced by Steven desJardins and Distributed Proofreaders

  "Visions!" She said softly, "Do you behold them too?"]

  THE AIR TRUST

  By George Allan England

  Author of"Darkness and Dawn," "Beyond the Great Oblivion,""The Afterglow," etc., etc.

  Illustrations byJohn Sloan

  1915

  TO EUGENE V. DEBS

  "Comrade 'Gene,"

  Lover of All Mankind andApostle of the World's Emancipation,

  I dedicateTHIS BOOK

  FOREWORD

  This book is the result of an attempt to carry the monopolisticprinciple to its logical conclusion. For many years I have entertainedthe idea that if a monopoly be right in oil, coal, beef, steel or whatnot, it would also be right in larger ways involving, for example, theuse of the ocean and the air itself. I believe that, had capitalistsbeen able to bring the seas and the atmosphere under physical control,they would long ago have monopolized them. Capitalism has not refrainedfrom laying its hand on these things through any sense of decency, butmerely because the task has hitherto proved impossible.

  Granting, then, the premise that some process might be discoveredwhereby the air-supply of the world could be controlled, the Air Trustlogically follows. I have endeavored to show how such a Trust wouldinevitably lead to the utter enslavement of the human race, unlessoverthrown by the only means then possible, i.e., violence. This book isnot a brief for "direct action." Doubtless the capitalist press (if itindeed notice the work at all) will denounce it as a plea for"bomb-throwing" and apply the epithet of "Anarchist" to me; but at thisthe judicious and the intelligent will only smile; and as for ourfriends the enemy, we esteem their opinion at its precise real value,zero.

  Given the conditions supposed in this book, I repeat--a completemonopoly of the air, with an absolute suppression of all politicalrights--no other outcomes are possible than slavery or violent, physicalrevolution. As I have made Gabriel Armstrong say: "The masters wouldhave it so. Academic discussion becomes absurd, in the face ofplutocratic savagery. And in a case of self-defense, no measures areunjustifiable."

  I believe in political action. I hope for a peaceful and bloodlessrevolution. But if that be impossible, then by all means let us haverevolution in its other sense. And with the hope that this book mayperhaps revive some fainting spirit or renew the vision of emancipationin some soul where it has dimmed, I give "The Air Trust" to the workersof America and of the world.

  GEORGE ALLAN ENGLAND.

  Boston, Mass., November 1, 1915.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  I. THE BIRTH OF AN IDEAII. THE PARTNERSIII. THE BAITING OF HERZOGIV. AN INTERLOPERV. IN THE LABORATORYVI. OXYGEN, KING OF INTOXICATORSVII. A FREAK OF FATEVIII. ONE UNBIDDEN, SHARES GREAT SECRETSIX. DISCHARGEDX. A GLIMPSE OF THE PARASITESXI. THE END OF TWO GAMESXII. ON THE GREAT HIGHWAYXIII. CATASTROPHEXIV. THE RESCUEXV. AN HOUR AND A PARTINGXVI. TIGER WALDRON "COMES BACK"XVII. THOUGHTSXVIII. FLINT AND WALDRON PLANXIX. CATHERINE'S DEFIANCEXX. THE BILLIONAIRE'S PLOTXXI. GABRIEL, GOOD SAMARITANXXII. THE TRAP IS SPRUNGXXIII. THE BEAST GLOATSXXIV. CATHERINE'S SUPREME DECISIONXXV. THROUGH STEEL BARSXXVI. "GUILTY"XXVII. BACK IN THE SUNLIGHTXXVIII. IN THE REFUGEXXIX. "APRES NOUS LE DELUGE!"XXX. TRAPPED!XXXI. ESCAPE!XXXII. OMINOUS DEVELOPMENTSXXXIII. "NOW COMES THE HOUR SUPREME"XXXIV. THE ATTACKXXXV. TERROR AND RETREATXXXVI. THE STORMING OF THE WORKSXXXVII. DEATH IN THE PIT OF STEELXXXVIII. VISIONS

  LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

  "VISIONS!" SHE SAID SOFTLY, "DO YOU BEHOLD THEM TOO?"

  "CAN'T BE DONE, EH?" SAID FLINT

  HE GATHERED HER UP AS THOUGH SHE HAD BEEN A CHILD

  AIMING AT THE BASE OF THE SKULL SHE STRUCK

  THE SPY'S BODY BURST INTO A SHEAF OF FIRE

  HIS FINGERS LOST THEIR HOLD--HE DROPPED LIKE A PLUMMET

  THE AIR TRUST