The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-07-11

49, ~ >es>O
ulated, shifted about until a dollar
means one thing one time and entirely
something else another time. Real
wealth is gained BY one of three Ways
by production, by gift Of by theft. Now
as pay. But it is monopolized, manip-
will you. produce all the wealth you
mean to enjoy, will it be given to you,
or will you steal it?'' :. ...>. ..
Vernon. looked a little puzzled and
somewhat abashed for moment. But
he saw that Lille was watching him
and awaiting his answer with deep in
terest, and that on Arthur's face flick
cred the suggestion of superior
srnile," and he gathered up his resour-
ces and made answer
II think will produce it, will prob
ably, In the first place, save from my
wages until I have, say, hundred
dollars ahead. believe I might buy
some kind Of goods that could sell
at a profit; or would undertake to
manufacture some article IN which the
material and labor would be cheap, but
the finished article would command a
good price; or I might lend money in
small sums to people who need it very
badly and would be willing to pay a
godd price for it's use. AS my begin
ming came to be more money T would
invest in the various ways which bring
in more money, until I could command
a sufficient capital to do some great
work. T would be earning this by my
business ability and foresight
Eyes, see. You will consent, you
say, sa produce your first hundred dol
lars. After that it is to come as some
thing for nothing in some one of two
or three Of the legalized methods; you
will simply reach out and take in the
wealth that is furnished, you by the
real producers"
II suppose I will earn my wealth as
other successful men do Vernon ans
wered with a little show Of resentment,
"by watchfulness,: foresight, willing
ness to take risks, bear responsibilities,
to invest my capital, etc. He looked
was tracing her embroidery pattern
with he finger very thoughttully and
did not meet his glance. Arthur was
gazing with serious eyes out Of the win
| dow and said nothing.
"All the risks you are willing to run
all the responsibilities you are willing
to bear would be useless unless if the
| men were not: constantly toiling. Your
railroad bonds, your mining stocks
your money at interest, would be good
for nothing at all If other men refused
| to labor. Your only source Of wealth
| accumulated by any other means thar
| labor is from unpaid labor; in plair
| words. the surplus stolen form labor
| above that which It Receives in wages
You give no: equivalent for it to any.
| one" -. ~'
! But some rich men work very hare
HARDER: than their employees. often"
mo doubt: But, It. IS work that bene:
fits society from Witch he extracts his
wealth Sblfk :is dan
] gerous, risky#worlk TOO. The fact that
man works hard lis no surety that hi
is doing anyone any good, you see:
There is another side to this ques.
| ton, too: Though: you may not return
! to society an equivalent for what 20,
take from it, you must pay for thu
riches, just the same. They will cos
| you many a pure: simple joy. many {
! generous, noble impulse, much Of thu
real goodness and gentleness of char
acter that your friends now love in you
for one cannot resort to any Of tn,
legal means Of getting something To-
nothing by which great riches are &C
/ cumulated without losing more or les
of his own innate purity and natura
nobility"
| "Oh, you are too severe, Professor
I still must believe that good men ma,
become rich! But according to- you
ideas no man can become rich by labo
alone. Then if there were no othe
means of gaining: wealth, no one woul.
be rich, no one would have time o
| money to cultivate the arts and refine
ments of life-we would all be clodhop
pers together ..
| "As labor from the resources of tn
earth creates all the wealth there is
all that is now squandered, destroye
by war, and commerce, or stored out O
use-I venture to assert that it cal
always produce enough to make us al
comfortable and happy, and this is tn
only legitimate use Of wealth, after al
Today, wealth is more important in tn
power its ownership gives to fe,
than in an other function. Those VIII
claim to own the natural gifth of tn
earth such as the coal, the oil, the iro1
the forests, the soil, claim what huma
beings must have in order to live a
all, and ofcourse they have the disin
herited ones at their mercy. Every
body comes into the. world with PAL
Of hands as we'll asa, stomach, brai
to conceive as we'll as to interested, an
is able to produce more than he con
sumes; there can be no natural. lac
of anything needful:''
| "Heigho! But it is nice to be ricl
after all, isn't it, :Lillie?' exclaime
Vernon laughingly, turning to tn
young girl. 1--WE are in the world, nc
in Utopia, and must do as it does.
And he added softly in her ears alon'
1T is for you sake I want to be ric]
after ALL : J.: s:.e
Lille blushed and smiled tenderly, an
Arthur from across: the room saw
and scowled ominously. Would Lii
be won by wealth alone 2" he wondered
=. AS for, himself, he did not mean to d
| vote himself to RaininR riches. Il