The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-02-08
XIX.
ANOTHER MEETING OF THE CAN
TERBURY ANTI-HUMBUG So
CIETY.
CAPITAL AND LABOR HUMBUGS.

CIETY.
CAPITAL AND LABOR HUMBUGs.
(Continued)
well" says Mr.. Davis, there's no
call for such a foolish demonstration
about this matter. | am not the law
maker. and until the law provides that
the iaborer shall have his share, YOU will
all have the privilege OF continuing TO
rake In all of the profits that you can
get. without considering the real pro
ducer. and the man who always has a
share in the Investment"
But Mr.. Davis" says Mr.. Nye, III
you will allow me. Why do YOU stick
20 the notion that the hired man invests
something, when really he don't invest
cent?
Its like this, Jacob" says Mr. Davis,
Robert Hopkins has invested s2c0,oO1 In
his WOODEN mill. That's his share OF the
undertaking. His 900 workmen, skilled
and unskilled, represent about $1,000 every
working day Of the year. For the year
about s3oo,000 This is their share OF the
investment Is machinery and brick walls
and a few thousand dollars I'm the oank
possessed OF more value than tho labor of
6O0 employees? Not by any means. Any
factory. or foundry, or machine shop, or
printing shop, or printing house, or COM
mercial business, IL matters not which,
has represented in that business under
taking just as real money value I'm
labor as the machinery and the building,
in proportion to the amount OF labor re-
quired and the number of workmen need
ed 10 perform that labor, and the labor
ers should receive their proportionate part
OF the net profits"
Can't be DONE" says Jacob.
'Of the eighteen thousand dollars that
was earned last year ut Robert Hopkins
mill. twelve thousand belonged TO the 800
workmen, and six thousand was the
rightful property OF Mr.. Hopkins. The
law OF man doesn't give them a cent.
but the law Of right and justice would
make ample provision for turning over
10 those producers OF this wealth every
dollar due on their investment as rep
resented by their labor"
But" says Deacon Thompson, "the
COO workmen all got good regular wages
all through the year while Mr. Hopkins
had TO take chances for gettln' some
thin or nothin.' There's the difference"
Mr.. Hopkins salary had been figured
out OF the cost of running the plant for
the year, same as the laborers salaries
were figured" says Mr.. Davis.
Then IL the mill had run behind for
the year" says the Deacon. and Mr.
Hopkins had fell short few thousand
dollars, you would have those workmen
suffer n proportion OF the loss accord
ing TO their investment In labor7"
Then a lot OF the men folks began to
laugh because they thought the deacon
had got the foundryman cornered.
No" says MIR. Davis. IL woul. not
have them suffer a dollar OF loss for the
reason they had no voice I'm the manage
ment Of the business, and as they would
have produced equally as much in the line
Ill. q. q
the manager of the business. Mr.. Hopkins.
did not have the judgment 10 shut down
the mill when he discovered there was
no market, he is TO blame and not the
workmen, unless there was a mutual
understanding in the beginning"
mo sense tew it, broke I'm Jason How
ard, mad as he could be, and as to the
giving OF my hired man a part of the
profits OF my farm, I'll see him I'm hell
before"
What's thati What's thatr' shouted |
federation. You must remember. Jason. |
that you are In the lords house, and you !
must use language becoming such a place. !
Don't let me call attention to this again" /
Wal says Jason, II guess | did sit /
a little too hot. I'll take that expression /
All back. What / intended 10 say was \
that don't propose to pay my hired man 4
a gosh darned cent moren his wages come |
tsw. for ne don't earn moren half OF \
that"
While there is no rule" continued Mr.
Davis, that can regulate the proportion
OF profit that the workman should receive
for his invested labor that can apply alike
TO all lines OF work, nevertheless there IL
no living man who can prove that an in
vested dollar is entitled 10 receive more
profit from net earnings than the invested
labor which works alongside OF that dol
lar. One should receive first it's six per
cent as It's daily wages, and the other
its two or three dollars day as its wages
because the latter bears nine-tenths Of the
burden. The rest Is simple enough. Give
TO each its proportionate share OF the net
profits"
And give them eight hours day into
the bargain?" says Jason.
"Of course give them eight hours a
day" Mr.. Chesley broke in. THAT IL. ~
ne is a mechanic and II he Is n farmer.
give him ten hours
And do your own chores" says Dea-
con Thompson. while your hired man Is
snoring away his morning hours I'm bed.
think I'll vote for Jest such a law"
Your hired man." says Abner. will
gft up az 5 O'Clock and do the chores and
will work until II o'clock. Then he is TO