Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-12-27
VIEWS OF
THE PUBLIC.
DOCTORS OR UNDERTAKES!
Bv Frank r. Crosswaith

With Unparalleled Avldlty inc
cancer of unemployment continues
to gnaw at the very vitals OF the
capitalist system. Notwithstanding
the frantic efforts of many quack
economic and social doctors to
arrest it's progress, the social
microbe appears determined to
conquer. The agonized means OF
the patient grow increasingly
fainter. In the search for a salve
that will ease the pain, prolong
life, and perhaps postpone death,
the "best minds" of capitalism
obviously are bafled and bewilder-
ed. Frankly, the situation is
alarming.
Unemployment Is No New
Pestilence, no stranger, but an old
acquaintance. Periodically it sal
lies forth to attack its capitalist
patient. Each succeeding attack
leaves the patient in a more
weakened condition and thus rem
der him less able to withstand the
next visit. This gorilla-like warfare
of the unemployment bacteria
seems at last on the verge of
proving its tactical value. When,
in its latest attack, the first
symptoms of the desease appeared,
the "quacks" made "a careful
diagnosis" and falsely labelled
this traditional foe of capitalism
prosperity" "The sage of
Northampton had generously and
wisely bequeathed to Gods chosen
country the golden heritage OF
prosperity" chorused the quacks;'
whereupon Wall Street anointed
Herbert Hoover to safeguard the
legacy.
It Is Now Generally Apparent
that this "blessing" was a mallg-
nant disease in disguise. 1t is be-
coming increasingly clear to
millions of people that this "burst
of unprecedented prosperity
meant for the masses who work,
involuntary and protracted idle
ness, poverty and restitution;
while for the relatively few finan-
cial and industrial rulers of the
Republic, it meant increased
wealth, prestige and power.
What Is This Thing Called I'm
employment? To begin with CAPT.
talism and unemployment are
synonymous. AS long as we persist
in operating industry for private
gain, and permit individual owner
ship of the socially necessary
means of human existence, unem-
ployment will follow society like
the tail follows the kite. Society
con no more escape the blight OF
unemployment while at the same
time it continues to tolerate pri-
vate ownership in land, factory
and transportation facilities, than
can a cake of ice cream remain
frozen in a cauldron of molten
lead.
In Order TO Prolong It's Life,
capitalism must constantly seek
new and improved methods of
producing and transporting
wealth. However, while new in
ventions generally bring to the
capitalist owner a measure of in
creased profits, it nevertheless,
also drives an additional nail in
capitalism's coffin. Under the
capitalist system industry is run
for profit, not service; therefore,
by substituting machinery for
human labor the capitalist in
creases commodity output; yet, in
order to bring to the capitalist
owner the margin of profit he
seeks this increased output must
be consumed. The capitalist HIM
self is unable to consume it. His
class as a whole, because of its
relatively small number, is also un-
able to consume it. Machinery can
increase production, but machin-
cry cannot consume that which it
produces; hence the problem. If
machinery had the same wants and
desires as worker and was paid
wage, most likely with a little
skill we could navigate around the
industrial bends (periods of de-
pression) if and whenever we
came to them.
Since The Ability Of The Working
Class to consume goods depends
upon the availability of employ
ment and wages received, it ought
to be clear even to a moron, that
when the working class is cut off
from employment, the largest
market for the consumption of
gods becomes closed to the capita
list. 1t is partial recognition Of
this economic truism that has
prompted some of our celebrated
quacks now whining at the bedside
of capitalism to suggest that
science and invention take a ten
year holiday. Fortunately for man.
kind, it is as impossible to stop the
flow of mechanical invention and
scientific research as it was I'M
possible for Joshua to make the
sun stand still, or King Canute the
waves cease rolling.
The Capitalist System is dying
system. The quacks attendant
upon it may succeed in accelerat-
ing the tempo of it's now feebly
beating pulse, but their patients
days are numbered. Neither Dr..
Rugged Individualism nor his
Commissions to Investigate unem-
ployment", not all the State and
Municipal Committees for "the
reief of the Unemployed" can re-
store Old Man Capitalism to a
state of vigorous health as in the
days of its long spent youth.
Old Man Capitalism has seen his
best days. His back is bent, and
his head is bending lower. Feebly
ne totters down the lane at the