The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1906-01-18
JANUARY 1S, 1906

simnlv TO gain point at the sacrifice of truth.
In fact while my original proposition, why the
wealth producers of today should not pc pro
portOnatey much better OF as our productive
power surpasses that of fifty years ago, remains
unanswered. Mr. Maxwell has met the PROPOSE
ton about well it could be met-wltnout
confessing the truth that they should be, but are
not.
On the other hand Mr. Gordon mas not yet
discovered that my whole contention (tor the
necessity OF socialism, is based on the increased
productive power of labor with the aid OF ma
chinery. His inability in this respect accounts
for his distinction, perhaps, of having become
socialist without investigation, and the necessity
of his fighting his way back to capitalism-born
too early. / feel that he is impossible" and
the proof he demands, is given with no hope
of his conversion, but for the benefit of readers
looking for the truth.
Mr.. Maxwell holds to the principle of COM
petition, but like all its defenders denounces it's
fruits Just as certain as man of large capital
can do business smaller margin than man
OF small capital, jusO SO certain will small dealers
be crushed out. That Is legitimate competition.
How, then, will competition be "restOred" The
idea that the $4,000 commercial travellers would
be Offset by equal army of travelling adjusters,
statisitions, superintendent, etc." under So
ciasm! Why the clerical forces now necessary
for the hundreds Of thousands Of private enter
prlses, with their separate accounts, would be
swept away. One great supply store in each
town and city would convert these hundreds OF
Mr.. Maxwell think there would be no elimination
OF men here? Socialists look upon work as an
evil Not at all. 1t is the exploitation of the
worker socialists reward evil; also useless
or uneconomic occupations. Has Mr.. Maxwell
evidence that these are "providencial?' Ii not
they debarred from this discussion
II Mr.. Maxwell can get the idea that in work
ing toward a perfect goal we must use our
reason instead of blind credulity, he will be able
to extrcate himself from the paralys1ng fatalism
n a ha
idea that belief in the "perfec liability" econom-
lcally, OF man is opposed to Christianity" Mr..
Maxwell apparently believes that the economic
emancipation of man would be curse; that he
must be ground down to ceaseless toll or he will
degenerate-that man is inherently bad
Table Ill: Labor time" labor cost" and
wage per hour" compared between hand and
machine production of 585 different articles of
manufacture See thirteenth annual report of the
commissioner of labor.
The above report shows first labor time"
by hand OF 694,601 hours, against 1924 hours by
modern machinery. Second it shows labor
cost" by hand of $1S5152 against $1O527 by ma
chine methods. This ratio of 1871 TO / in eff
clency and 176 to l in economy OF modern ma
chine production over hand production of fifty
years ago. In other words, where formerly labor
received $la60 for producing product it today
receives but Sl; where formerly it was EMPLOYED
l27 hours to perform task it is today EMPLOYED
but one hour. This is what the report shows ON
its face, and far exceeds my claim If had no
hlgher ann than to do up my opponent / might
let it go at that But it can readily he under.
stood in report like this that if one industry
We're treated SO extensively as largely to out
weigh others the general average would be
sWerved in whatever direction this industry might
vary from the average. 1t will be seen that
clocks and watches is such an Industry In
labor time and labor cost" it is about two
thirds of the report. 1t shows the high ratio
Oh ~ TO and 40 to respectively in efficiency and
LABOR cost. Beng SO large part of the report
n fhn
recton OF its extreme variance and the ratios
100 10 and 81 to y have been using in
this discussion what the report shows with
this industry excluded
NOW to the extent that these sixty industries
with their production of 5S5 different articles
are an average of all industries and employments
to that extent Is established the position NAT
labor Is today dspossessed OF five-sixths Of tbe
al nf nPnI uofi.