The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-09-04
BY ARTHUR W. CALHOUN.

till you have read the book, but sup
pose that as you go you keep In mind
three questions; "a Did the authors
intend class collaboration? (2) Would
tho book tend toward class collabors-
ton If its teachings were generally ac-
ceDted? CD Can we make any sound
use OF the material In ltg 1t may
sometimes happen that the same book
can be used as q textbook In class
collaboration or as textbook in class
struggle, according to the disposition
Of the students and teachers.
The book in question is Hamilton 6
Mays Control Of Wages" one of the
numbers on the Workers Bookshelf
Of the Workers Education Bureau.
AS you read the first two or three
chapters see whether you can find any
thing to explain the new interest in
economics, both on the part OF busi-
nsss interests and on the part of la
Dor. How much hinges on the Ques-
ton whether labor is a commodity OF
mott How does the traditional bust
ness view about wages differ from the
labor and SOCIAL" viewsg What mo-
ttYes do you detect in the orthodox
explanation Of why wages are what
they are? What difference does 1t
make whether there are any natural
laws determining wage levels? In so
Tar as there are such laws, where
must we look for them? Perhaps it
VIII appear as a result Of this study
that IRbor's choice is between trying
to make itself more valuable COM
modify and trying to get rid of the
wage system.
As you proceed with chapters "
and v, try to get clear picture Of
the possible sources from which the
workers might possibly gain wage In
crements, SUpposing 1t were possible
to pare away unnecessary income OF
property and privilege to the limit,
how nearly would the needs Of labor
be met? You may not like the authors
emphasis on the snallness OF the total
amount available for annexation: but
member what We said in an earlier
number: that even in the United
States, the richest country In the
world, the total annual product is at
best barely sufficient to give the whole
population a decent living even II all
injustice in apportionment were done
away with
Now why has labor been more inter-
ested in attempts to change the dis
tribution of wealth than In efforts to
increase production? Under what con-
didons might labor safely face the
problem of efficiency Of production?
To what extent have labor and the
technicians common interests as
against management and the property
holders? Assuming that labor could
in various ways promote increase Of
Industrial efficiency, do you find IN
that fact any guarantee that the BEN
efts VIII accrue to labor? These ques-
tons are OF practical significance. A
year ago the B. & o. plan was q now-
cry gospel Today it is beginning to
sound like a battle-ground. It may
turn out that experiments with union
management cooperation will put
new edge on the class struggle in the
form Of o battle over the fruits.
When you come to chapters vi and
VII of Hamilton and May you face the
problem of a general strategy Of the
economic system Is 1t necessary for
labor 10 have a general economic phil
osophy? How would you character
ize the reorganization contemplated
by the authors? Is it reasonable to
expect a rational, orderly solution
along logical linesf Would labor DOM
nation mean an automatic end OF
economic injustice?
In chapters VIII, * and K we ar
rive at a theory of wages. We see
that II is necessary to figure In not
merely the amount of money In the
pay envelope, but also what the money
win buy, and besides this we need to
count the things the worker gets with
out paying the bill out OF his own
pocket. Are free schools, libraries,