Page:Alexander Jonas - Reporter and Socialist (1885).djvu/44

 organic composition. The workmen are there, so are the foremen, inventors, engineers, book-keepers, cashiers and financiers; even the boss may remain if he be a thorough business man and a good organizer; he would be given a good salary (only think that the manager of the Interior Department of the whole United States gets not more than $8000 annually)—in short all the elements have remained to make the business of the concern to be successful; there is but this difference that the 41 millions of dollars of profits hitherto pocketed according to present "right and custom," by the boss, would be used for the benefit of the workmen by whom the values represented by that sum had been created. And what would the aspect then be? Every one of the workers would receive, on an average, a little over $1,047 out of that 41 millions; consequently, together with the wages he formerly received, he would have an annual income of about $1,435. Of course, that. wouldn’t be according to present "Law and Right," but it would be honest and fair, according to the principles of Reason and Justice.

Yes, but — — —

I know there would come plenty of "buts" and "ifs." But, Mr. Reporter, I am ready to answer every one of them.

Well, then: Are all branches of industry to be organized that way, or similarly?

All branches without exception: manufacturing industries, agriculture, mines, commerce and transportation. In regard to the manufacturing industries, the advantages accruing from such a system are too apparent to need further discussion. But also in regard to applying that system to agriculture, it is easy to see that thereby mankind would immensely be benefitted. I have already mentioned to you what Liebig, the scientist, said in regard to rationally organizing agriculture in Germany, and that thereby over 70 millions of human beings would be supported in comfort and abundance; and Mr. Liebig said so about forty years ago. In the meantime all sorts of machinery and implements have been improved and invented, and thereby agriculture would be improved and perfected to such an extent, that many more millions than Liebig thought could be