The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-09-14
EDITORIALS BY THE PEOPLE.
Letter from a Socialist.

To the Editor OF The Times: II
Roosevelt honest or does he quote
only a part OF what Lincoln said, with
deliberate intention TO deceive?
Lincoln did say, Labor is prior TO
and independent of capital. Capital
is only the fruit of labor and would
| not exist IL labor had not first existed.
Labor is the superior OF capital and
deserves much the higher considera'
ton" But let's see what he says =
| little further on: And inasmuch As
mcst good things are produced by
labor. il follows that all Guch things
OF right belong to those whose labor
has produced them"
This In neither complex nor con
fusing. Capital is only the fruit OF
| labor, and all such things OF right
| belong to those whose labor has pro-
duced them. Stand in the busy city
and look about you. Everything you
! can see. factories, railways, stores
merchandise. lights, water, dwelling
property-all these things were pro-
duced by labor. and Lincoln was
right. They do of right belong to
those whose labors have produced
! them.
The abolitionist then proceeds ::
But II has SO happened In all ages
OF the world that some have labored
while others without labor have en-
loved a large portion Of the fruit
This is wrong and should not con-
! tinue."
Then in his great love of justice
regard for TuDilc interests. equality
of opportunity and the uplifting oi
an oppressed and downtrodden peo-
plc. he continued: ITO secure 20
every laborer the whole product oi
his labor or as nearly as possible. is
worthy object of any government.
Now in summing up the situation
let us see what we are doing today to
promote the Lincoln policies.
Bulletin 81, of the u. s. census ri
Manufacturers of 1907, shows that
men working in over 100000 estab
lishments OF industry, produced al
average value of s9.11 per day, and
received in wages an average OF Sl.5s
per day. Now let us see what would
happen il the Lincoln policies were
carried out, and the powers OF gov
ernment used to prevent expectation
First the government would take over
a.; the industries. II matters not
whether they be confiscated. bought
at forced sale or I'm open markets, ],
could be easily accomplished. provid
ing Mr.. Roosevelt's statement be true
thet the right to regulate wealth III
the public interest, Is universally ad
mitted.
! With the industries all under gov
eminent direction, We could econo
mize greatly in the output Of labor
fret dispensing with all advertising
matter. This alone would save to
tho consumer many millions Of dol
lars every year. All tools and ma
chineny would be kept by the govern
uent to be used by the workers and
never be offered for sale, dispensing
with and saving TO the people, the
EXPENSE OF statesmen. Goods for prl
vate consumption would be stored ir
large quantities and could be deliy
cred 10 consumers with very small
OUTPUT of labor or expense.
All labor would be paid by the gov
eminent and would receive enough fol
its services to buy all consumable
produce. making an over-productior
panic an impossibility.
We would doubtless have TO levy O
tax for old age pensions and divers
other expenses.
But to return 10 the problem. | an
informed that the owners of those In
dustries comprise less than 20 pei
cent OF the people Now. II We are
70 work for public interest; II those
owners cannot AFFORD to pay more
than $1.59 for the production of thai
which costs the consumer $911: IN
stead OF making laws with which "
crush the laborcr II he revolts, why
not take over the industries and run
them for the public good?
| FRANK BROWN.
Detroit, Sept. 1S, 1910.
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