Evening journal., 1906-09-19
wilmington, September 10.
ApprseIatss our SD On Lab0r.

Editor The Evening Journal:
TO the writer of the Labor Day edi-
torial in Tho Journal I don my cap. A
fairer comment on Labor Day would be
hard 10 find. What a glorious asser-
tion for an editorial writer to make.
Permit me TO quote one extract and
then dwell thereon.
I'm production three factors are re-
cognized-labor, land and capital La
Dor IS the most important because It is
human. Without labor the other forces
would be inert Labor is the active
force; land and capital the passive"
The above bravely written words are
enough to open up the eyes Of a blind
iman-he should be able TO see what tho
results of a Just distribution would be.
even though he had to see through II g
stomach. Labor land and capital, tho
factors I'm the production of wealth,
and It only remains for us to decide
which course win bring about the most
equitable distribution.
! Suppose we were to give to land rent,
for is share IN the production OF
wealth. and to capital interest and to
labor wages. But how much of the
wealth produced by tho one active fac
tor and the two passive factors should
go to each? The problem is not hard
90 solve, T. e., give rs little rent as pos
slble TO land Cor. more properly speak
/ ing. the lanClord). just interest to
CAPITAL, ard the balance to wages. This
might seem to be an unjust distribu-
ton. but, regardless of what IL might
seem 10 be. it would be the only safe
and Just methcd TO pursue. Here is
an example:
We can suppose for instance that
80 represents tho total wealth produced
and we viii suppose further that we
have been distributing it along line
thnt might seem more just than the
Fahove method. and that land gets. as
'front.' 30 cap tai gets, as interest 8Oi
and labor gets. as wages, 80. Il ii not
clear that since 90 Is the whole II we
advance rent to 80 WAGES must decline
Ito %, since capitsl viii withdraw e II
does not get just interest? So then
IL we follow that limo of reasoning, and
reduce rent to % the results viii be
that wages will advance to 80. and the
lower we make rent wages will rise
proportionately In the ultimate rent
will fan 10 a minimum and wages viii
advance to a maximum.
A further blessing would flow from
this method Of distribution than might
be dreamed Of AS rent declined and
wages advanced tho purchasing power
of the masses (99 per cent Of the pop
.ulition) would increase, and. as re-
suit. the garden. farm and factory
would be called upon to supply tho In
creased demands that q stimulus would
he felt even into the sunless depths OF
the mines. Commences ag would hoa'
the more gaily on the seas, the throb OF
the locomotive would become the more
impatient and the entire world would
ho agiee.
But those of fabulous wealth? What
would become OF thcm2 The fifty
thousand-dollar dinner Bradley Mar
tins. the iackass- buying Astors and
their like might find cause for economy
but n so. the naunting injustice which
makes anarchists would also vanisi
with the curse from which they sprung
william John Hogan.
Wilmington. sept. 3.
(The above communication was re-
ceived the day after Labor Day, but II
some way was mislaid. Because Of th'
excellent and somewhat novel ideas o.
Mr.. Hogan we are glad We found thu
communication and cheerfullv give 4
publication Editor Evening Journal)