The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-12-17

I%IHlNGS were going well with
the combination - two new
bakers had been taken in. bust
~ ness was steadily increasing
and. in view of substantial profits. they
were already thinking of getting !,
second kneading machine and widen.
ing their field Of operations. But Hag-
gletOn was not having all plain sailing
with Gentle. Margaret and Philip. The
old diver and the girl exerted their
utmost efforts TO keep Philip from con-
senting to the development Of the bust
ness further in field that would
throw men with families to support
out of work. AT last they succeeded.
Gentle was so pleased with the prog
ress of things that he could not refrain
from pushing his advantage. and one
evening he turned the talk upon Il sub
ject where he felt himself particularly
strong and Haggleton indefensibly
weak-that is. the unfair division Of
the products of toll. What right had
an employer. he asked. is keep
woman sewing carpets all T2y and
then take half of what she c.,rned?
Suppose The woman did the work at
private house. rs often happened.
Then >her employer charged the own
err Of the carpets. say. So Il day for the
womans services and gave her II
dollar and half. That was not fair.
The employers part in this effort was
too small 10 Justify him in keeping 30
much of her earnings 1t was the
woman who did the work and breath
ed carpet dust and took chances OF in
lection; the employer merely secmred
her the job and furnished needle and
thread.
Gentle contcnded that this was ore
cisely the situation betwee' r9pitaI
and labor all over the country. ihf cap
itaist taking about half Of what the
laborer earned. whereas fair division
would leave the rich quite rich enough
and practically do away with poverty
Was ii not Il monstrous injustice, he
went on. that Il few hundred New
Workers should every year draw from
vast unearned fortunes an income ag-
gregating Core than the total yearly
earnings>of million fellow citizens
born in poverty?
II Gentle had stopped here all might
have been well. for Philip agreed with
him thoroughly so far. but in the ella
ton of triumph he ventured upon So
cialistic ground where. as Haggeton
OWNED by fash of intuition, the
young man could not follow him. In
deed. it had long been source of re-
greet to the old diver that Philip would
not take very seriously his dreams of n
beautiful Industrial republic. soon to
be realized. according to him.
So presently the tables were turned.
and Gentle found himself under a fire
of searching questions by Haggleton.
Did lie believe that the present divi-
sion Of wealth would one day be re-
placed by Il fairer division? Yes by
the will of the people? Yes But how?
Take the railroads. Who would own
them? The people. The people would
take the railroads? Yes And pay for
them: They had paid for them al
ready. for they built them. forged the
steel and hewcd the timberS. HIM.
Then the eleven billions or so that the
railroads were valued nj would never
be paid to the present owners? Never.
Philip was frowning.
twill 1t be the same with the land?"
pursued the old man. Twill you So
cialists simply take ii and make no
compensation TO present holders?''
why discuss this?" objected Gentle.
why not discuss it," replied Hag-
gleton sharply. You've had your say
about our scheme Of robbery. Why
shouldn't have word about yours?
Then how about the land? You'll take
1t. won't you. in your Socialist state.
and pay for IT."
II tell you We have paid for It over
and over again"
II know IL. But will you pay for II
In any other way"
no"
And the great industries"
They will be Of no use to you. Con-
ditions will be SO bad you will beg
the people to take them"
For nothingT
"Yes."
"And IL by any chance we don't beg
you to take them-then you'll take
them anyway
Yes"
do you call that fairw asked the
old man. turning abruptlv tn Philin