The representative., 1899-11-23

laborers. their standard Of living will
constantly Advance. Then they can
grow into something better than efic-
lent animals to serve capitalists.
Rev. s. w. sample-Good gentlemen.
One cannot conceive of the wonderful
possibilities, the world has never
dreamed of, could such justice, due the
laborer. be done, that you agree should
be done. The marvellous natural re-
sources of our country, being turned out
with little effort through the cdecreas-
ing friction, saving of energy and
wealth, concentration Of power, organi-
zation of laborers, that comes with the
trusts but the fruit of it all being given
to the millions, who now in darkness
toll for 1t. Then, indeed, there would
be the strongest of governments for
and of the whole people, whose ruler
would be an all-just God above; citizens,
brothers to uphold which there would
be no need of an hireling army.
Nils o. Warner-Hurrah for McKin-
ley prosperity!
Barefoot Street Gamin-Come off yer
perch, yer OIL duffer, That guy stole a
Swede paper QD on mortgage. He's
one O. them mean national bankers but
calls hisself ledge" so his Swedes won't
catch on, see?
Sophmore From College, am told
that even If you actually increase the
wages of laborers it would only increase
the number of their children, increase
the hands begging for work, mouths
begging for bread. pockets to be filled
out of the wage fund" Mr. Lucas has
this idea.
Second Student-Yes, so read my
great English political economy Inas-
much as wages are determined by the
size Of the wage fund.-" divided by the
number of workmen, their wages could
only be increased by decreasing the
profits of the employers.
1rishman-Drat the book, if it was
written by an Englishman!
Ii,
absurdly you talk! Did it never occur to
you that the amount of water that can
be taken from a reservoir depends more
upon the rate at which the water is
pumped in than upon the size of the
reservoir? Even so the rate of wages
that can be drawn from the wage fund
depends, not upon the size of that fund,
but upon the rapidity with which the
fruits of labor are poured in. Payment
of ages should not lead to- any depletion
of this fund, but rather to it's increase,
because the greater the wealth produced
and poured in, the greater the wealth
that can be taken out. Hence by work
Ing in harmony, increasing the produc-
tiveness of labor, the reward of the en-
ployer and wage earners may alike be
increased. Between these two classes
there need be no conflict. They are
both wage earners, both laborers.
H. B. F.-Under our present unjust
system no amount of fast pumping can
enable the real producers of wealth to
draw out increased returns That is
largely regulated by the favored stock
brokers and bank monopolists for their
own selfish interests. There is no hon
est measure of value or medium of ex-
change under the present Democratic
and Republican rule.
Wharton Barker-That is true. My
remarks apply, of course. to an honest
issue of greenbacks by the government
(the people, for all the people equally
Student-What is capital? Could we
not do without it?
Wharton Barker-Certainly not. Here
is paper telling about the value of
capital. I trust by carefully consider
ing it some day when not exhausted in
your vain efforts to make ends meet"
you will be benefited by it.
MR.. BARKER'S PAPER ON CAPITAL.
The dictionary says capital is that
portion of the produce of labor saved
from immediate consumption, which is
employed to facilitate further produc-
ton and support of the laborers."
The shoemaker at his bench needs
but little capital, only enough to en-
able him to supply himself with the
necessary tools and food while making
pair of shoes, before he gets his pay
for them. But even that little capital
he must accumulate before he can set
up in business. Likewise capital is re-
quired by the great shoe factories, but
in proportionately increased ratio. be-
cause of the intricate machinery and
longer time elapsing between the ex-
penditure of labor in making the shoes
and the receipt of payment by the man
ufacturer. The more complicated in
dustries become, the larger must be the
capital 1t follows from this that the
combinations constituting the richest
industries can only proceed with the ac-
cumulation of capital. Hence encour-
age, not discourage, capital
The greater the prOductiveness of
labor, the easier it is to save for saw
ing costs less sacrifice, and the more
rapid the accumulation of capital.
1t is necessary to give some incentive
for the accumulation and embarking of
capital in production. Otherwise there
Il 1>o -