Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1886-08-08
COMPETITIVE INTEGRITY.
Ertrdc' from GronlunFs "Co-operatire
Commonwealth"

1t is a fact that the mere transfer of
products is very low order of labor, re-
quirng only the most ordinary and in
ferior kind of mental qualities which, if
it received simply an equivalent in return,
would be allowed but the very lowest
compensation. Yet it is that very mer-
camille class which absorbs all the wealth
by every available form of deception and
strategy, while thoroughly skilled arti-
zan cannot possibly amass large com
petence by the dlligent prosecution of
his trade. This whole mercantile class is
a criminal class in regard to by far the
largest part of their income; one of our
really dangerous classes-and the same
applies to their cousins, the financial
class.
1t is damnablc hypocrisy in these
mere dealers in products and financiers
when they pretend to any extraordinary
executive ability" they know in their
hearts, that they have but very little abili-
ty, very little skill.
1t is hypocrisy, when the poor me-
chanic who by superior skill produces all
the wealth of the world is taught to look
up to those who only handle his pro-
ducts.
The whole integrity of our rulers can
be summed up in one word: cash-pay-
ments.
Our mechanics and artizans cannot be
filled with too much righteous hate
against such shams.
And what about integrity in WORK?
Well, it is bad at the start that the duty
of doing ones properwork well is entirely
left out of "morals" in popular speech.
And yet it is by work that man takes his
place among the creative forces of the
universe. AS has been well said: ''Thor-
oughness of workmanship. care in the
execution of every task undertaken, as if
it were the acceptance of trust which
it would be breach of faith not to dis
charge well, is a form of duty so mo-
mentous that if it were to die out from
the feeling and practice of a people ma
tional prosperity and happiness would be
gone"
The absence of such integrity is most
conspicuous feature in the operations of
modern industry, and is the most lament
able fact of all. 1t was not so during the
despised Middle Ages. Then every arti-
IAN felt pride in his skill and in turn
ing out good work. Now shoddy work
is Astounding. 1t has come out in the in
designations of the Trades Unions in Eng
land, that the men are required by their
masters to scamp" their work. that is,
| turn out inferior work, and that this is
just the reason why the masters are so
determined to introduce piecework in
stead of daywork
Such Is our integrity-the busis of our
morals. This was the first point which
1t was necessary to establish: that our
best people" are criminals. If they
themselves do not know it, it is simply
because their understanding is being
clouded by their interests and the oppor-
tunities Of the system.
If this hypocritical age shonld eranFly
enunclate its moral code, it would say:
| Thou and thine may keep whatever
/ thou Canst get"
Carlyle has illustrated this in drastic
manner. He makes one pig ask another
What is Justice"
"N our own share of the general swine's-
trough, not any portion of my share"
but what is my share?"
"Ah, there is the rub upon which pig
lsm can settle absolutely nothing. Nv
share: Humph My share is. on the
whole, whatever | can contrive to get,
without getting hanged or sent to the
hunks.