The herald., 1896-01-12
SUNDAY. JANUARY IL. 1896
A LABORED ESSAY ON LABOR


One of our city contemporaries de-
livers an elaborate essay on labor. 1t
is labored effort in several respects.
The article contains some truth and a
modicum of sound philosophy, but in
several statements the writer exhibits
woful ignorance of economic princi-
pies. He extols workers and calls them
s'the worlds sinews of strength" add
ing that ''their labor, if it can be sold
at fair price, is valuable capital, OF
which they need not be ashamed"
From this statement it would appear
that If labor cannot "be sold at a fair
price" the laborer has reason to be
ashamed of it. This is certainly not
very encouraging to the wageworkers
of the country, whose labor, as
a rule, can not be sold at a
fair price, for the reason that
natural resources, without which labor
is helpless, are everywhere monopol-
lied. Also because class legislation in
the form of protective tariff laws, and
other enactments which confer special
privileges upon few at the expense of
the many, keep wages down very near
the lowest point where the man who
has labor to sell can exist. There is
competition, but no protection, in the
labor market, while in the control of
natural resources monopoly has its
own way.
The writer further says that labor is
"as essential to success as the money of
the capitalist" This statement implies,
or at least it leaves the reader to infer,
that labor and money are the only
factors necessary for the production Of
wealth. The idea is emphasized by the
succeeding sage declaration that "the
interdependence of the two Qabor and
money ought never to be lost sight
Of"
The merest tyro in political economy
knows that there is no absolute inter-
dependence between labor and money.
Labor is one primary factor in wealth
production. Land is the other primary
factor. By a union of these two factors,
either directly or Indirectly, all wealth
is produced. Capital, which is one
form OF wealth, is as truly the product
of labor as wealth in any other form.
It is such labor products as are used
to assist labor in the production of
more wealth. Money is simply an in
termediary, medium of exchange, a
convenient tool of trade. Money is
not even capital, though it may repre-
sent capital, and can readily be ex-
changed for capital. These are eco
nonic facts, fundamental in their na-
ture, and they should be understood
by every person who atte Dpts to in
struct others in political economy.
The illogical writer praises the self
respecting wage-earner, and declares
that ''such mans work is always in
demand" This is the most astound-
ing announcement on the labor ques-
tion that we have read or heard of for
long time. 1t scarcely harmonizes
with the wsll-known fact that there are
now, and have bsen for some time in
this country, more than two million
unemployed mon who, as a rule, are
idle not from choice but from necss-
sity. or course there are voluntary
tramps, loafers, thieves and vagrants
who do not want work, but are trying
to live off the earnings of others. But
after those classes have been elimi-
mated from the count there still re-
mains great army of honest. worthy
workers, skilled and unskilled, who
search in vain for employment.
Among numerous other pleasing and
glittering generalities put forth by the
editorial essayist is one couched in
these words: "Every man is a sover-
eign, and the door is open for him to
make the very most of himself that he
Is capable of doing. Our
children should be taught that there
is no obstacle in the way of the re-
alization of their legitimate inspira-
tions, il they have the energy and
ability necessary for their realization.
The beauty of a republic is that a man
is left free to carve his own destiny"
The above statements read beauti-
fully, and to being who had
iust dropped down from an
other planet into this world they
would appear highly encouraging
Thirty-five or forty years ago they
WOULD have very nearly fitted the ex-
Sting conditions. But in the light of
-pnumerable facts today which are
Known to everybody, such statements
ste the veriest "rot." The door is not
yeen, it is closed. Monopoly has
- ~ oeor to natures storehouse