Page:Alexander Jonas - Reporter and Socialist (1885).djvu/37

 gate amount of wages earned by the workmen, but kept by the capitalists, who did not participate in its production.

I am really astonished at the conclusion we have come to, and I would not object to carrying out your proposition to reward the workmen accordingly if you had not forgotten to mention one very important factor: I mean the risk the employer takes when he invests his capital in any enterprise whatsoever. We have taken as an example a factory where the annual profit amounts to $50,000. But, there are plenty of cases where $50,000 are sunk and no profit is made at all. What is an employer to do, who loses his money instead of making any? Should not the $50,000 be considered as a premium for the risk the capitalist takes in investing his property, and should it not be used for the purpose of insuring him against the losses of future years, or years past by?

I shall answer that question later, when we shall consider the question of capitalistic risk, and, therefore, I wish you would ask some other questions now.

You have shown to me what is the cause of the miserable condition of workmen the world over, I admit, but I cannot see the remedy. I also concede to the Socialists, what all other fair-minded men will concede, that their manner of criticism in regard to economic conditions and their causes is powerfully convincing. But, I would be glad if you were able to show me that beside their critique the Socialists possess the prescription for the remedy of the evil; I would be glad to hear what the Socialists propose to put in the place of the present faulty system. Therefore, will you please tell me what the Socialists propose to do? You have told me already that they would not abolish the present system of production at wholesale by means of steam, machinery etc., but that they would even extend that system, and that only the manner of distributing the values so produced is to be changed, so that all who work shall participate in enjoying what has been produced, and that the larger part of the product shall no longer remain in the hands of a few individuals. Can you briefly explain to me how the Socialists would distribute the product of labor in a manner that would do justice to everyone?