The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-02-23

of PuOlic Instruction of Kansas, in his
last report, says that there were actually
$4,000 less than there were ten years
ago. That means that Kansas tonight
is 72,2G0 short OF the number of chill
dren of school age compared with ten
years ago. If that is happening in a
State like Kansas, n state where agricul-
! turc is the main industry, n state where
poverty is rare as compared with our
other states, what may we expect from
our great manufacturing states like New
York, Pennsylvania, and other eastern
states? Our present system has doomed
thousands to lead n single life; it has
prevented the formation of what might
have been thousands of happy homes, and
yet our republican and democratic poll
! ticians tell us that Socialism will de-
stroy the home"
As basis for our argument let us
assume that the retail price of what is
produced by an average days labor in
the industries of the nation is $1,000. II
is meant to include among those who
labor in the industries, only those who do
really necdful labor. It is meant to in
clude only those doing such labor, mental
or manual, as is essential to the high
est achievements of civilization. The as
of each of these industrially necessary
laborers produces what retails over the
counters of the nation for $1,000. The
figures may he little high or low. That
does not materially concern us.
In the industrial system that now
obtains in all civilized countries and that
is known as the capitalist system, that
$1,000 worth of produce is divided into
two parts. These parts have but one
characteristic in common-thcy each
originate in productive labor. The $1,000
worth of goods is solely the result of
productive activity. One part goes to the
laborcr who does the nccdful work; the
other part does not go to him, but to
another or others.
Again let us assume that the part
that goes to the laborer Gas his wagc)
! is $500 worth. Then $500 worth goes
elsewhere. As a matter of fact, accord
ing to Census Bulletin No. 81, the
average wage of all wage-earncrs of this
nation is less than 50 for each day of
actual labor, being only $l.52. The fact
that some laborers may receive more OF
less than this need not concern us. The
average is the essential consideration.
This $500 represents that part of his
product which the wage workers must
receive for his subsistence.
Thus it will be seen that the wage
worker is allowed to keep what is con-
sidcrcd to be absolutely necessary for his
continued existence. He gives up four
I fifths of what he produces Why does
he allow himself to be thus robbed? II
, is because he is uncnlightened. The pro-
duct is taken from MIN in such n way
that he does not realize it. The speaker
/ illustrated this by referring to our two
methods of taxation. the indirect and
direct. To illustrate, he said that in
| the State of Kansas $5O,OOO.0O was ap-
propriated by the State Legislature for
the expenses of the State Agricultural
College. This created quite stir
among the owners of property who were
taxed for this amount The same year,
Kansas paid by indirect taxation. $S,-
OOO.OOO.OO for the support of the army
and navy. Yet not word of protest was
heard.
The speaker said that if given abso-
lutte control of things in this country for
thirty days. he could cnlighten the
workers as to the way they were being
robbed. without writing or speaking n
word on the subject. lie would simply
pay to each worker the full ten dollars
the full value of his product, and then
proceed to levy n tax to collect the Ell ght
dollars back. When the schedule was
prepared. it would then be submitted to
the people for their acceptance or re-
lection. First. there would be n levy of
many millions for the construction and
maintenance of educational institutions.
hospitals. and in fact. all really neces-
sary public institutions. This levy
would. of course. be approved. Them
would come the demand for hundreds of
millions for dividends on bonds and
stocks.
Then there follows another item in
the railroad list. 1t is for few mil
lions that are necessary for conducting.
in UP to date FORM Dolitical convent ions