Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1919-12-17
From the Dearborn I,

How much profit does a workman
reap from his days labor? How much
ought he to reap? Does a "good living"
come under the head of profit, or is it
properly part Of the cost of producing
days labor? How far can human
energies be measured and human values
standardized in order that the cost of
days labor may be standardized?
Questions like these occur in one
period or another Of every mans
thought about system of economics
which shall be more solidly based than
any which serves us now.
- But a more than academic interest
are the real; even if unspoken, basis
: for much Of the irritation and confusion
which exists in the industrial world
today 80
d The workingman is beginning to
understand that he is in business. His
raw material is human energy. His
product is days work. All other
business men seek profit above cost
! d production, why should not he? "
4 The difficulty thus far has been in
making out the cost sheet. How much
does it cost to produce days work 3
: that is the question for Which there
seems to be no satisfactory basic an
swer. -E.
!. q It is perhaps accurately to determine
albeit with considerable interference
with the days work itself much
energy the days work takes out Of a
man. But it is not at all possible to
accurately determine how much it will
require to put back that energy into
him against the next days demands.
+ Nor is it possible to determine how
much of that expended energy you will
never be able to put back at all-be-
cause sinking fund.- for the replace
ment Of the body and vital strength Of
4 worker has never been invented.
s. It is possible, however, to consider
these latter problems in lump and
provide for them under form of old
age pensions; but even so, we have not
thus attended to the question OF. profit
which each days labor ought to yield
in order to take care Of all of ife's
overhead, all physical losses, and the
inevitable deterioration which falls up
y ON all earthly things. ..z:,- -.
Il Moreover, there are questions having
to do with the reproductive period,
which would have to be solved. Here
is the man, let us say, ready to begin
his service to society by turning out
days work throughout his life. How
: him to his present age and usefulness?
And how can that be figured as part Of
the cost of the energy he puts forth as
he works today? Now, if it were the
ease of a machine, you would know
what to charge. The machine cost a
certain sum; it wears out at given
rate; it would cost such-and-such an
amount to replace. It is simple mat
terato figure the actual cost Of the ma
chine and is productive work, and add
the profit. 60.
Can we do that with men? Rather,
can men do that for themselves, so that
selling a days work they will have as
! intelligent an idea Of the cost of that
days work and the profit it ought to
. 1ring, as any manufactures ought to
! kaye of his product?
!; The problem becomes more compli-
aated when you consider the man In all
, kaa aspects. For he is more than i
workman who spends a certain number
Il hours at his work in the shop every
'Aay. il
4f he were only himself, the cost Of
Afs maintenance and the profit he fought
to have would be simple matter. But
he Ia more than himself He is citi-
zen, contributing BY his cultivation and