The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-10-21
THE PIPE DREAMERS SETTLE
THIS PROBLEM.
PROSPERITY FOR ALL MEN.
4 Grand Idea Evolved From n Cloud
OF SmOke-The New Theory
All Men to be Made Happy and
no Idle Working Men-Riche. for
Every One.

Inc last session or the club was ,lnin-
tentionally evote to a discussion OF
economic conditions. A chance remark
served to divert the trend OF CONVERSE
ton from one channel to an entirely diff
ferent one.
At 8 o'clock the chairman and the
associate Pipe Dreamers were in their
places, and the smoke was so thick
mat It gave promise Of a busy evening
along some line of thought or another.
Where there is smoke there IS fire. and
perhaps for this reason, whenever he
club smokes most furiously, the discus
sions are most fiery. Upon this partic-
ular occasion the club room looked like
a cross between Pittsburg and Chicago.
except that the air was dense with
white pillows of smoke instead OF black
ones. Each member was smoking with
volcanic vigor.
Gentlemen" spoke the chairman.
with energy, for several weeks | have
been devoting nearly all of my time TO
the perfecting of a plan which is so far
reaching, so sweeping, so titanic in its
scope that the human mind can hardly
comprehend it. At last l have master
ed the difficulties that have bassat me
In developing it. And 1 consider that its
effects upon the entire universe will be
more important, scientifically, tina
those of any other since Newton DIS
covered the law of gravity. l now have
the honor to explain the idea to you,
my dear associates, before it is given to
the world. Listen carefully, gentlemen,
Tor L want to know how it strikes YOU"
BY ginger!" exclaimed the Janitor,
e~xcitedly, lit must be a great idea. AS
for me, I'm sure right now it will strike
me all right
Your mastery ideas always strike
me as being most forcible and llgen-
1ous," added the secretary, land am
certain that this new one will be more
well, more striking han any you have
favored us with BEFORE"
A reminiscent light appeared in the
janitor's eyes.
speaking of strikes" he said, absent
m~indedly, that reminds me of 4 very
annoying thing that occurred today"
well what was it?" asked the chair
man, impatiently.
st had to walk all the way down
town.
For the usual r~eaSOn?'
mo; I was able to finance the car
fare all right. But the car line was tied
up by some kind of a strike, and I
found that 1 would either have to walk
or stay at home, so I walked. 1t seems
to me that there is a new strike every
day or two now"
yes, and they are mighty inconve-
nient sometimes" said the secretary.
cit seems to me that some bright man
ought to devise a solution or preventive
of tsrikes. He could max a tremen-
dous fortune OF of it,
The chairman became interested.
And think of the none he would
save the working men and his employ
err" the secretary went on. why, the
wages lost in strikes amounts III the
course of a year to Seventy-1ve or a
hundred million dollars. Families suf-
fer, millions of people are unhappy,
prices go up, manufacturers lose inn
mense sums, and, all in all, strikes are
mighty inconvenient for even those who
are not directly interested"
There was a short silence.
Gentlemen, I think I have it," ex-
claimed the chairman at last. Il think
1 can outline a little legislation that will
prevent all future strikes. 1t can all be
regulated by a simple law or two that
will effectually stop the strikes by strik-
ing at the root Of all the trouble be-
tween the working man and his employ
er. 1 would have congress pass a law
making every working man a partner
in the concern he works for. He paused
for effect. "A certain percentage Of the
profits of the concern. say twenty-five
per cent, goes to he men employed.
That's pretty fair figure and leaves a
reasonable share of the profits for the
employer.
Now, suppos a concern has a profit
of a million dollars a year; twenty-five
per cent. goes to the working men who
do so much oward making hat profit
as big as it is. I'd have all books nd
accounts of every concern subject TO
I@< Inrn
could be no deception about the actual
profits"
81 know of a good many men who
could make a good thing if they were
government inspectors in a game like
that" said the secretary, %synicallv.
"Well, if you were not sure Of the in
spectors, or if o didn't want to put
so much responsibility upon n man,
I'd have the books inspected by three
men-one from the government, one
from the employer, and n from the
employees. That ought to insure an
honest auditing.
Don't you see how my scheme
would work out? If a nan made no
profits the employees waved Of course
get no share. Consequently, they would
profits the employees would of course
on q paying basis for their own good.
You wouldn't see any strikes then. AND
you wouldn't see laborerS who thought
Tia AhS "SAS NSoAAA IN -
ing profits while they were still work.
ing for the same old wages. The great
er the profit, the greater the wages.
Every man would be personally inter
ested in the success n welfare Of he
business. The working man would
come in for a big rake-of at the eEd
of the year. He could go to his work
in his own carriage. Everybody con
ecrned would be prosperous. In that
way, gentlemen, o would be able to
divide the prosperity fairly between
the capitalist and the laborer.
why, sirs, you would see the work
ing man getting up early and working
late to make the firms business In
crease. They would want a twelve
hour day or may be sixteen hours.
When some big corporation cleared thir-
ty Or forty millions a year you v-o-'d
know tina Mr.. Workingman was get
ting ten millions OF it. There wouldn't
be the disparity between the profits Of
the employer and the wages Of the EN-
ploye that you now gee. Isn't that a
grand idea? Just q question of passing