As we hinted in our last chapter, during the transitional period the federal principle would assert itself; and this, we believe, would develop at last into a complete automatic system.
As indicated above, this principle would work in a twofold way. First, locally, as determined by geographical 291 and topographical position, race, and language. Second, industrially, as determined by the occupations of people. Topographically, we conceive of the township as the lowest unit; industrially, of the trade or occupation organised somewhat on the lines of a craft-guild. In many instances the local branch of the guild would be within the limits of the township.
On the other hand, the highest unit would be the great council of the socialised world, and between these would be federations of localities arranged for convenience of administration. The great federal organising power, whatever form it took, would have the function of the administration of production in its wider sense. It would have to see to, for instance, the collection and distribution of all information as to the wants of populations and the possibilities of supplying them, leaving all details to the subordinate bodies, local and industrial. But also it would be its necessary duty to safeguard the then recognised principles of society; that is, to guard against any country, or place, or occupation reverting 292 to methods or practices which would be destructive or harmful to the socialistic order, such as any form of the exploitation of labour, if that were possible, or the establishment of any vindictive criminal law. Though in the lower units of this great Federation direct expression of opinion would suffice for carrying on the administration, we cannot see any other means than delegation for doing the work of the higher circles. This means that the development of society beyond what we may call the administrative period cannot be foreseen as yet.
We now deal with the religious and ethical basis of which the life of communal society may be called an expression; although from another