Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1912-04-18

/ capitalists would be so much reduced
that wages would rise still further, a
rise which would, of course, regulate
that of all who were employed in the
public service, while the latter would
enjoy the advantage of greatly reduced
prices. which would gradually be ex-
tended to almost every article of gen
eral consumption.
Throughout the whole of this prog
ress there would have been continue
GUS approahc to an equalization Of
earnings by all government and muni-
cipal employees, an equalization which
would first have arisen through the
principle of equality of opportunity
being applied to education, when it
would be seen that-al labor being
equally necessary in its proper place,
and everyone being, so far as possible,
employed in that kind of work for
which he was best fitted-there was
no justification whatever for any large
difference in the payment of different
classes of workers; and this principle
would, of course, have been carried
out still more completely by a So
cialist government. From this ap-
proach to equality in education, in
speech and manners, and in. general
requirements, there would arise such
large demand for the better qualities
of all goods as to reduce the useless
and wasteful variety now made, thus
tending still further to reduce cost.
Useful is Useless Labor. -
On the other hand, the abolition of
inheritance of wealth would gradually
lead to the entire disappearance of
millionaires and of the greater part of
Individual wealth, and with this dis
appearance the demand would cease
for that enormous mass of toys, and
jewels and tasteless frippery now
made chiefly to tempt the idle rich to
expend their unearned money; hence
a great mass of hitherto wasted labor
would be available for the production
of useful and enjoyable products for
all.
F Another important result of this non
competitive supply of goods to all
public employees would be the gradual
displacement of metallic currency, and
the proof it would afford that amy such
currency was wholly unnecessary, AS
the government and municipal stores
would be strictly limited to public
servants and to the amount of their
wages and salaries, the ordinary cur
rency would not be received in pay
ment, although wages would for some
time continue to be paid in money; but
every public servant could obtain, in
exchange for the whole or any part of
his wages, government coupons TO the
same nominal amount, which would be
received in payment for all their pur-
chases at the stores. By this simple
arrangement it would be impossible
to obtain the advantages of the stores
without entering the government ser
vice. She result would be that gold
would depreciate in value as compared
with these coupons, and for the first
time in the history of civilization, it
would be seen that paper money rep
resenting productive work is the only
true standard of value and the best
instrument for exchange.
Would Prefer State Work.
When non-competitiYe supply OF
goods to state and municipal employees
had reached this stage its advantages
would be SO obvious that great number
of those still working for private CAPT
taIsts would also demand state en-