The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-05-09
GOVERNOR JOHNSON OF MINNESOTA
SPECIAL FACTORS IN.
PRODUCING V|EAIT
Claims of Labor and Rights of
Producer Discussed By Cath
olic Priest.

Rev. Timothy Brosnahan, of the
Jesuit Theologate at Woodstock, Md,
in recent lecture on the subject OF
1.-THE Production of Wealth and the
Claims of. Labor" said in part:
Amy question regarding the work
eingaman's claims to u share of the ont-s
put Of production is not only an~econ-
~oniic question; It is pre- eminently a
moral question. The workingman is
not only a producer, but he must be
maintained for the sake Of further
production.
"That the 'laborer is worth his hire
is an elementary truth of economic
justice, admitted by the capitalist as
we'll as by the workingman. The dis
agreement arises when they attempt
to determine what is the laborer'<
hire.
Both admit that the wealth of the
country belongs to the producer. One
maintains that brains are the main
agent in production, the other thai
labor produces all wealth.
What are the factors in the pro-
duction of wealth? Three answers
have been given to this question.
'*First-Labor is the sole factor in
production.
"Second-Nature and labor are the
factors.
"Third-Nature, labor and capital
are the factors. :
"The first answer is that given by
socialism.
Carl Marx, pathfinder of socialism,
taught that the value of commercial
goods does not depend on their utility,
but is measured wholly by the amount
of labor embodied in them, and that
labor is measured by the time re-
quired to produce an article under
normal conditions Of production, and
with average degree of skill and in
tensity prevalent at the time
MARKS error Is twofold. First he
minimizes the rights Of labor. The
other error of Marx lies in this-that
he ignores nature as factor in the
production Of the wealth. Labor alone
does not make coal more valuable than
shale.
'This fact reveals two truths First,
the Creator in preparing the earth
for mans habitation, has furnished it
lavishly with potentialities Of wealth;
The second truth Is that it Is brains
rather than muscle that transforms
and subjects the energies Of nature 20
mans use and service. =
EARLY socialists maintained that
the labor which produces the. wealth
Is manual labor; On the other hand,
the extreme defenders Of capitalism
h41A hat <Hn4
wealth that Is characteristic of mod
ern times Is due to the intellect
knowledge and the other; rare mental
qualities Of mankind. . 4
Human: labor, Of whatever kind.
however unskilled, is always informed
by intelligence. Even charwoman
requires intelligence in the perform
ance Of her humble duty. If she did
not, she would be replaced by a ma
chine. The most perfected machine
will never dispense with directing in
telligence. %5Ss Il = ~ "a
Apply this obvious truth to two sc
the vexed questions of labor-first. 1T
can not be denied that in every; de-
partment Of production. machinery
has become an astounding factor In
the augmentation Of wealth; second,
It Is evident that under capitalism
production has enormously increased.
But capital, IN SO far as it is produc-
tive and not predatory or dropsical.
is accumulated wealth directed by In
telligence to the production Of furthe,
wealth. .s8s. i. ..l3s 5s - II gss
q 1T ma ybe said, then, that the
wealth q nations i produced by. no