Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-07-08

year, for he cannot feed himseh curing the SEA
son of a maturing crop He must take such WORK
therefore, as he get, which VIII AFFORD MN
food from day to day. even though the work be
less profitable than gardening. Neither tools with
to do carpenter work nor a wagon with which TO
contract a piece of hauling, are possible without
surplus
Therefore It behooves every man to be cap
italst from his eyes up" our correspondent pro-
nounces all men to be. No independence OF ac-
ton; no election Of congenial and profitable en-
ployment can be had unless man have sufficient
capItsl with which to finance himself. To scoff
at the ancient virtues of thrift and economy is
the action of a. madman.
Having acquired surplus however meager' the
owner may do he wills to do with this canned
fruit of his industry He may hide 1t in the ground
II he elects to do SO. Or he may plan 10 make
IL useful to himself and others.
The man who understands gardening, but is
day laborer for want OF the capital with which to
work for himself, may go TO the man who has
surplus beyond his immediate needs and propose
to borrow this from him. agreeing to return Its
equivalent at a given date, with something addt-
tional for the accommodation. This surplus IS
safer and more available for use If the owner keeps
it In hand. However. for consideration, he takes
a chance of loss or of delay in its return and
allows the gardener 10 nave It for time By
this combination OF current labor and canned
labor both make profit. The fruits are the fruits
of labor all right, but part OF that labor Is
canned" labor, held over from the surplus OF the
past. We call 1t capital.
There are those who contend that canned
labor should not share in the profits; that every
thing belongs to current labor. Yet no man can
distinguish between the two The who has
enough in reserve to work the week through re-
ceiying his pay on Saturday night, uses capital In
his business. Without 1t he would have been
forced to require payment for services at eacn
meal-time, or perhaps. advance before going
to work In the morning. that he might nave
breakfast. The man who possesses canned LABOR
which he can add to the current labor of another
to produce increased returns. Is surely entitled to
a share in those returns If this is untrue we
would be glad to have the error Of our logic and
the defect in our Of justice, pointed out
to US.
Suppose now that this canned" labor Is invest
ed by It's owner In horses and wagons They are
his horses and wagons. He may use them to sup
plement his own labor as to add to the pro-
ductivty of his efforts just the carpenter uses
his tools for that purpose. He is entitled to do
this He aids himself and harms no one else In
fact he adds to the sum-tota OF productivity II
he has enough canned" labor laid by with which
to own several teams he may employ those who
have no surplus hand, to handle his teams Tor
him. while he directs their activities BY his skill
In management he avoids idle times and all lost
returns Who can contend that this executive
ability is not entitled to the fruit Of its labor?
Let us suppose now that these employed team
sters contend that the canned" labor invested IN
the teams is entitled to no returns out of the
proceeds? This would be absurd, of course II
that is to be the the owner should dispose OF
them and keep his canned" labor idle and safe
In which event the current labor of the teamster'
would also be idle. Or suppose that the executive
is to be allowed no return for his skil?. He will
cease to supervise and the business will becom'
chaotic and Improbable for everyone.
Now suppose these teamsters demand that th
government buy he teams and turn the outfit
over 10 them 10 rum They ask the government
to take the "canned" labor of others away from
them by taxation and invest it in the business
to be run comparatively by the teamsters. Wha
warrant would there be for the government Il
force the owner to sell and what warrant to turI
the taxpayers canned" labor over to the curren
labor to do with 1t may deem best?
If transportation systems ought to be purchased
by the government and operated as governmental
agencies it should be done for reasons of publ
policy quite aside aside from the wish of the EN-
ploye to profit at the public expense. The EN-
ployes have the right as citizens to advocate gov
eminent ownership. but they have no right as I'm
ployes to demand it. Their rights are in no wis
superior to those of any other citizen.
There is vast amount of loose- thinking witt
regard to capital and labor and executive ability
There is much demand for change in our pres
ent economic system. which is based upon palpabl
inequalities which all admit, instead of upon
carefully thought-through plan for more equitabl
, methods. Men have struggled for ages to estah
lish better conditions Patent remedies are .
doubtful value
The world has progressed toward greater eco
nomic and social justice. 1t viii continue tn
painfully slow process for ages to come. Most G
US rejoice In every substantial step forward Their
to be way to cut-across lots. The pat
! Is too uncertain and the brambes too numerous.
We can help clear the Intellectual atmospher
of the clouds of prejudice If will see that ou
' fight is not against capital Our fight is again'
egazed highwaymen, who hold us UP and TAX
the canned" fruits of labor away from us. TIL
" remedy is to get the highwaymen, not to destro
all the capital in the world in order that there ma
I be nothing for them to steal.