The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1897-05-22
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Utilized by Plutocratic Influences
to Teach American Youth a
False Political Economy.

work in our public schools have
heretofore been referred to in
these columns. The subject of
political economy is a favorite
one with such interests. From
the nature of the science it is
one of which the teacher has
no practical knowledge, and it
is, therefore, taught altogether
from the theories expounded in
the text books, modified fire.
quently by the political litera-
ture of the party to which, by
previous training and inherited
prejudices, the teacher has be-
come attached. The subject is
one that more intimately af-
fects the growth of a great ma
ton than any other in the do
main of unitarian science. Is
it not most important, then,
that the facts alleged and the
principles taught be in accord
ance with the truth, and that
the pupil be not embarrassed
by errors that will materially
affect his influence and action
throughout his whole life.
Whenever there is disputed
point, dogmatics should be re-
ligiously avoided and nothing
more ventured than to see that
the authorities on both sides
are accurately given: More
than this cannot be done with
out great damage to truth and
the integrity of the growing
mind. There are enough prin-
ciples, on which authorities
agree, to occupy the little
time devoted to this matter in
the public schools, and disput-
ed points can safely be left for
after consideration.
That no one may think that
we are disposed to magnify an
imaginary evil, there lies be-
fore us the notes taken by a
competent young man., a stu
dent dent il the the high ssehasel ef a
lecture delivered during the
past year in Duluth to a public
school class in politicaIsecon-
omy on Grades Unions and
Strikes The teacher advanc-
ed these, to trade unionists, pc
culiar ideas: ~ -
az x Labor unions seem
to believe that by acting in a
body they can force employers
to pay higher wages than if
left to themselves. \ :
The most general form of the
question is whether by combi-
nations able to order a univer-
sal strike the hired 1aborers
can raise the general level of
wages. Political economists
hold that they could not do so;
labor agitators hold that they
could. Economists rest their
denial upon the principle that
the total volume of wages can
be increased only by savings.
Nov saving is a voluntary
act; a present sacrifice for
future gain. The greater the
whole gain the greater the
volume of savings will be. We
may assume, in a given case,
that the volume Of savings are
as great as they can be for ex-
listing inducements. Now,
therefore, wages are as high as
the situation will bear.
"a general strike might sue
coed in getting a temporary in
crease of pay for some laborers.
The whole volume of Iaborers
would not be benefited by such
a rise. A higher level of wages
could only come from an in
creased flow Of savings, but if
wages should be raised profits
would be lowered. The induce
ments become less, not greater.
This means a falling off in
wages. The conclusion seems
just that even a universal
strike for higher wages would
fail of success. There would
not be sufficient savings forth
coming to make such increase
possible. The doctrine of the