Page:Alexander Jonas - Reporter and Socialist (1885).djvu/35

 that behind. And the laboring people would remain where the land is, but they would be without any money, they would have no factories, houses, machines, mines etc. How long, do you think, it would take them to replace what was taken away, or destroyed, by the capitalists? Well, it would be ridiculous to state the exact time; but you will admit that here the phrase "in less than no time" would be the most appropriate answer. Consequently you will now be convinced that all merchandize, all machinery, the means of labor, the tools by which all commodities are produced, are created by labor, and by nothing else but labor. And now, let us see whether labor to-day receives the well-merited reward for its exertions, or who takes it away from labor.

The investigation will be quite complicated, I suppose.

Not at all. It is as simple as it can be. Take any industry you like; take the manufacture of "agricultural implements," the first item mentioned by the U.S. Census. Suppose there are 100 workmen, foremen etc., employed in one factory at an average amount of wages of $10 per week. After the wages have been paid from the aggregate values produced by these 100 men, there remains a large amount, a small part of which is needed to replace and repair the capital used up by the process of production; and yet there is more left—more than the workmen received in wages — —

You forget the manufacturer, the Boss!

Did I, eh? Of course, this is very wicked. Well, he pays his best workman, the superintendent, who is conducting the whole business, $30.00 per week, and he thinks that to be quite a good salary for the services rendered. Now, how much do you think the boss should get for his "services?"

Well, he gets the remainder for his profit, of course.

He "gets" it according to our present nonsensical institutions, undoubtedly. But, that isn't the question. The question is: To how much is he entitled for his labor,—if he really works—in view of the fact that he has already received the amount of interest allotted him for his capital invested in