Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-05-14
THE RIFF
Answers 10 Questions by Anglo
American in the sHcrald' OF
ygaV IL. 1883.

Answers 90 Questions by Anglo
American in the sHerald" OF
May rs, fsss.
Let us first have the definitions OF
wages and capital. Wages are the
returns for all human exertions.
Capital is all wealth used to produce
more wealth. Wages are not paid
out Of capital, but out of the products
of labor itself.
There is no such thing as a wage.
fund. II there is, where did it come
from2 Does It grow spontaneously
somewhere? II so please inform us
where, so that we can all go there
and get a load OF wage-fund; come
back and employ labor; or better
still, we could all pay ourselves wages
out Of the fund and would not need
to work at all.
The truth is, all wealth is produced
by labor with the aid of previous
labor-capital exerted upon land
directly or indirectly, thus capital be-
ing the product of labor we can at all
times produce capital as we need it,
and employ it as it aids labor most.
Then again the gentleman speaks
OF imports being paid for out Of
existing capital. According to that,
would infer that there must be
capital fund somewhere similar to his
wage-fund, only known to certain
capitalists, who monopolize the
whole business and who pay for all
imports out of this fund, and when
their fund runs out the country is
bursted. Let us see.
AN imports must be paid for in ex
ports, be it in wheat, manufactured
machinery or gold, if you please, all
of which must alike be produced by
American workmen. There is posi-
lively no other way OF getting them,
and it makes no difference whether
our workmen raise wheat, manufac-
ture machinery or dig gold. Which
ever our country is best adapted for
is the best and most profitable employ
ment for our labor and capital; for
Protectionists need not fear that any
body will trade with the terrible for
eigner unless he can get little more
wealth than he gives, and conse-
quently enriches the country by trad
ing.
To speak of American labor coming
into further competition with foreign
labor is all bosh. What more compe-
tition could we have than we have at
present, when our gates are open to
the pauper labor Of the world? The
trouble is everything is protected but
labor. Thst is we are obliged to pay
protection prices for everything we
buy out OF wages determined by the
sharpest kind OF competition that an
army of enforced idle workingmen,
both native and foreign, standing
around on the streets can bring about
by bidding for every job that comes
along. Fellow-workmen, how much
longer are you going to submit to such
delusion as nation trying to tax il
self rich by tariff?
We are not afraid of competition, as
long as it is not too much one-sided.
The American workingman can hold
his own against the rest of the world.
His high wages mean cheap produc-
tion. Our work is more productive
by far, dollar for dollar, than the de-
grading, underpaid labor of India or
any other country. But what we
want is little equality, little COM
petition for our coal barons, timber
land owners, iron-mountain owners
and all other mopopolizers of natural
opportunities. Give us free trade
in raw materials and we can
stand competition against any
country under the sun. And
| will answer our Pasadena
friend that in ten years wages will be
fully as high as now, while everything
We buy will be cheaper to the amount
in nearly all cases OF the tariff re-
moved. Consequently, our wages
will have more purchasing power
workmen can save m ore, build better
homes, and business will thrive
more capital will be produced; every
body will be better off; laborers, bust
ness men, manufacturers, and all ex-
cept the monopolist of the bounties
OF nature, our pet trusts, and our dear
land gamblers and sharks. Yours for
fair play, S. BYRON WELCOME,
30l, Macy street.
Los Angeles, May 13, 1888. |