The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-02-06
XIX.
ANOTHER MEETING OF THE CAN
TERBURY ANTI-HUMBUG So
CIETY.
CAPITAL AND LABOR HUMBUGS.

(Continued)
Then Noah Davis got up, ne that owns
the iron foundry, and says: There was
a time in my business career when l
thought ] couldn't possibly pay an ex-
perienoed mouider more than two dollars
and a half a DAY. And that was all that
/ did pay for my best workmen for
good many years. Managed 80 get quite
ucts that we turned out. Finally, my
workmsn organized n union and asked for
moro pay. but told them I couldn't give
any more then. but that ! would as soon
then sent in word that they must have
$3.50 a day after the close OF the present
month. Other foundries were paying the
price and 7 must. Well did. gave
mighty glad OF IL. for can see IL was
only giving them the amount that was
really due them. I had to charge a httie
higher for our stoves, but the demand
kept up, and all had 20 do was 10 hand
over 10 my workmen the amount Of the
increase, and that was all there wSs
to IT.
But when you gave In" says Jason
Howard you must have realized that
YOU had all OF the risk TO run in the bust
ness, and consequently the demand was
an unjust one. You was the man who
was investing all Of the money and real
Not necessarily So" says Mr.. Davis,
'you must look at both sides OF an argu-
ment or proposition before you make
decision. The other day | was talking
with Robert Hopkins. who owns the Hop
ldns wooden mill. where 800 hands are
employed. He told me that the net earn
ings Of the factory last year were SlS,W0
over and above the interest on the In
vestment. the taxes. Insurance. etc.
How much have you got invested in
the mill. Robert? says !. oh, some
10000. running capital and all. says he.
Now. you people here may think II
was just right for him TO keep the whole
$4,000 because he appeared TO represent
all there was invested or course before
the law he had a right to. and he did.
But II wasn't right"
belong TO Mr.. Hopkins I'd like To know
who Il did belong to-" And a lot OF the
people present agreed with Jason TINT
II all rightfully belonged TO him, who
had invested all OF the money.
"On the face OF IT, says Mr.. Davis.
''it does look that way. But IL you
look at the real justice, outside OF the
lawful right. you'll see that all of that
$4,000 didn't belong to the mill owner"
Now. you're introducing Socialism,
says Caleb Carlton, breaking in on what
he was sayin. "and it's my opinion
that there's more good sense In some OF
those notions than most folks give them
credit for
mo. not Socialism" says Mr.. Davis
but simply giving to the laborer thai
which honestly belongs to him"
Then Jacob Nye broke In and says
There don't anything belong to hires
man but the wages that you've agreed
10 pay him. That's all he's entitled 10
It's all nonsense TO talk about his share o
the profits It's none of his business
how much the employer makes"
Always been counted 80 I'm the past.
know" says Mr.. Davis. but the futur
will prove that the thing was wrong. Tn
hired man the real producer the one VIII
creates the commercial value Of nine
tenths OF everything that is required b.
man on this earth. II entitled to his shaS ,
OF the profits."
mo such thing" says Jacob. III
aint got any claim on anything for tn
reason he doesn't invest anything alon
with his employer II he did 'twould b
different but he don't The farmer an
the manufacturer put in all OF the none
and they do all of rlskin'. but the WORK
man he doesn't risk cent Not a cent
There's where the common unlversi
error comes In, Jacob" says Mr.. Dsvi
THE fact II the laborer does invest SOM
thing and for that investment he's Ell
titled to his share OF the profits OF II
undertaking"