The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-15
ABILITY AND LABOR.
BHsH0P PBTERKTH RRvIBWs MIL
LOCKE ARTICLE ON s00IALiSM.
Tho Parkersburg Sentinel Publishes tns
Following from the Pen Of the Rt. Rev.
Geo. W. Peterkin. Bishop Of w. Va.

crafty ulsCuSSe0, ana yet very lilhc w.
derstood. and while I have no new IDEAS
OF my own to unfold. think can render
some service by calling attention TO an
article In a late number OF the fof'-
nightly Review by w. II. Mallock.
He says that while no doubt, by tne
mere derivation OF the word, everypouy
who is touched by a knowledge Of soclai
suffering. and desires to relieve II ~
organized action Of any kind wouid DC
justified In claiming the name or sociai-
ist. Yet, according TO It's most distlhc-
tive use the word socialism does not IN
ply merely a desire to relieve social sur
ferlng, but belief that social suifeIiHs
is due to certain special causes, anu q
consequent desire TO relieve II by speciai
and peculiar methods. IL Is known fur'hel
that these methods, whatever may De
their details. would involve the des'I uC-
tion OF institutions and principles, WI"
have hitherto been considered the lou"
dalton Of all society and civilization anu
especially the institution, as 1t no" "a
lists, OF private property.
Socialism Is defined by its leaders 10
be the scheme Of an industrial system lOI
the supply Of the material requisites OF
human social existence. The main cnarse
against the system now In vogue Is tlat
the increasing wealth Of the community
secrns to accumulate in the hands OF {.
limited class while the great masses OF
the people remain in poverty. The rem
edy for this state Of things they declare
TO be the complete appropriation of what
they cali the possessing classes. This
spoiation OF the private landowners ana
capitalists must however take place Dy
degrees only There need be no VloIeice
or even abruptness about II. only 'el
the State proceed on the couIse
on which It has already embark
J
| slpplying towns with water and gas. ana
rand transit as it now does. let II go
| on TO supply them with everything tney
need. and so after awhile become inc
| universal manufacturer and merchant
| and landlord. In this process the Sa'e
would not forcibly ext.nguish any priVate
| enterprise 1t would only eAuhsuisn
| them by successfully competing asa'"S.
| them. Under this scheme what was saved
| by cutting down the wages or aniiitS' VI
exceptional productive talent ana also
the nrofits of business would constitute
fund which could be utilized in raslhs
| the wages OF The entire community
yvh.r this scheme is fully realized. then'
| according TO the socialists, men VIII De
| redeemed from the bondage 10 WHO"
private capitalism has euplecteo 'nei"'
and there will be no unemployed CLASS
| Now the fundamental error IN TINS
| ia the chief If not the sole huiila"
gent in production. 1t is. however. eV'-
| dsnt mat not only muscular labor. put
| Invention. scientific discovery. and IN
due.rial MANAGEMENT too are all con
cerned in production at the present udy'
and more than this that the mouefh III
crease In the productivity OF lhouS
| trial exertion is due to the deVeioprneh'
of the latter. and not OF tile ioiinei
10 on GlD1HCf
there Is great confusion In the use oi
terms When writer's speak OF the Ia
hoyiny classes. they generally mean the
rooss Of wage-earning manual laborers
mt this is certainly an inaccurate use
of the words. The labor Of the inventor
and of the superintendent Is Just az
much a form OF human exertion as Is
that Of the man who handles the PICK
or holds the plow. We shaII aVolu con-
fusion OF thought on this subject II 10
the exceptional faculties of the inventor
and discoverer and manager we give the
distinct name of ability. If we make
our language correspond with the facts
of the case, II will then appear absurd
TO say that labor produces or piles
I'D the wealth OF the community. Ability
has some part in piling up and produc-
ing. and perhaps a larger part Than
many imagine. or are disposed 10 admit
The great economic fact OF the modern
world is the constant increase in the
amount of wealth that results from the
exertions of the same number Of men.
In proportion 10 the population there
is about three times as much produced
now as in the days of our great grand
fathers. But this increase Is not due to
any new development Of muscular force
or skill. No. the cause of the increase
has been the gradual concentration or
the moral and intellectual faculties OF
exceptional men on the problem or d.
recting labor.
In a word. il IS the Increasing opera
tons of ability that has been the sole
new factor I'm production. and therefore
It is TO ability that the modern increase
I'm wealth is due. 1t is this fundamental
fact that socialism ignores: and yet II
Is vastly important 10 see clearly In
what precise way ability as 4 productive
agent differs from labor. Labor is
a kind OF Industrial eXertion which be-
gins or ends with the particular task or
material on which each laborer rs en-
gagged But ability is a form OF fndustri-
al exertion which influences the labor
Of an indefinite number OF men. or an
indefinite number Of tasks. So far as
labor is concerned. precisely the same kind
and quality of force is Bxerted in dig
cling q canal, and in digging a railway
cutting. But what has transformed canal
transit into railway transit has been the
ability of a minority Of men operating on
the vast army OF laborers. and trans
figuring the result, while labor has re-
mained unchanged. And what is true OF
the creation Of railways. is true OF
modern progress and modern production
generally. The entire growth OF wealth
in the modern world is an increment
which has been added by ability 10 the
old product Of labor.
The socialist contends that the laborer
ought to get as his wage what he pro-
duces, but if the reward of labor is to be
considered in this way, why not the re-
ward of ability likewise? And the ques-
ton is forced upon us what proportion
of the national increase does ability pro-
duce? And the truth appears that small
minority of men possessing the faculty
of ability, produce all that part OF the
national increase which without the as
sstance OF its rare gifts, the majority
could not produce.
The truth is that the labor Of the many
apart from the ability OF the minority
creates but a small part Of our national
income: this national income rises with
the increased application and efficacy OF
ability. and If that ability is unduiy ham,
pered or suffers reduction in force by
a reduction OF its natural incentive, the
national income is capable OF indefinite
shrinkage. If the State is TO become the
sole employer then she must enlist in her
service the ability now in the service OF