Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1910-01-07
The Battle
BY
CLEVELAND M0fFETT
Novelized by the Author
From His Great Play OF
the Same Name
Copyright. 1909. by C. W. Dillins-
ham Co.
CHAPTER XIV.
CAPITAL AND LABOR.

thlNGS were going wen WIN
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 a
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 busi-
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 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. be asked, to keep
woman sewing carpets all day and
then take half Of what she earned?
Suppose the woman did the work at a
private house. as often happened
Then her employer charged the own
er Of the carpets, say, SO day for the
woman's services and gave her
dollar and a half. That was not fair
The employers part in this effort was
too small to justify him in keeping so
much of her earnings. II was the
woman who did the work and breath
ed carpet dust and took chances of in
lection; the employer merely secured
her the job and furnished needle and
thread
Gentle contended that this was pre-
cisely the situation between capital
and labor all over the country, the cap
italist 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 it not monstrous injustice, he
went on, that few hundred New
Workers. should every year draw from
vast unearned fortunes an income ag-
gregating more than the total yearly
earnings of million fellow citizens
born in poverty?
If Gentle had stopped here all might
nave 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 Haggleton
OWNED by a fash of intuition. the
young man could not follow him. In
deed. it had long been a source of re-
gret to the old diver that Philip would
not take very seriously his dreams of a
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 he believe that the present divi-
sion of wealth would one day be re,
placed by 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 fol-
them? They had paid for them al
ready. for they built them, forged the
steel and hewed the timbers. HIM
Then the eleven billions or so that the
railroads were valued at would never
be paid to the present owners? Never
Philip was frowning.
"Will it be the same with the land?'
pursued the old man. Twill you So
cialists simply take 1t and make M
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 a word about yours
Then how about the land? You'll TAX,
it, won't you. in your Socialist state
and pay for it,"
~ tell you I'VE have paid for 1t owe
and over again."
81 know it. But will you pay for i
in any other way"
mo"
"And the great industries
'"They will be of no use to you. Con
ditions will be so bad you will be,
the people to take them"
For nothlng?"
yes"
And if by any chance we don't be-
you to take them-then you'll TAX
them anyway
Yes"
do you call that fair?' asked tn
old man. turning abruptly to Philip.
NO" said the latter, Il don't"
Philip said he was going out Ell
had an engagement with Margaret
and on his way to the boarding hous
he turned over in his mind what h
should say to her. 1t had suddenl
become clear to him that he could no
trust Gentles judgment beyond a Gel
tain point; also that Margaret's pos
ton about the bakeshops had been to
strongly taken for 1t to have been orig
inal with her.
Margaret greeted her lover wit
happy animation.
Tell me, did Gentle talk to 20
about those bakeshops?" asked PHILIP
"Why-er"-
did heT"
Yes" answered Margaret, "but-
how strange you are"
Philip frightened as his eyes reste
on her. She was deliciously charming
He led her to the queer old loung
with it's red rose pattern, and ther
they faced each other, half smiling
half serious.
But the growing difference that ha
sprung up between them insisted upo
obtruding itself.
why were you so serious when 70
came imp Margaret asked
I'VE have made a mistake. dear,
one thing" he said, land IL kno'