Page:Alexander Jonas - Reporter and Socialist (1885).djvu/55

 comfort and happiness. And then let us suppose all the different branches of production to be organized into trades unions, or whatever you may call it, for the purpose of producing all the necessaries and luxuries of life according to the best, most rational process conducted by the directions of the scientists of the age. Let us furthermore suppose the people who are the mediaries between the producer and the consumer to be organized like the producers, also the people who carry on the business of transportation and communication, and supposed their income to be regulated according to what the producers receive for their labor; and let it be supposed that seven hours be sufficient for everybody to work in order to produce whatever is needed, and to do all other business for the whole commonwealth. Let us finally suppose that by some great invention the entire department of machinery and mechanism would have to be revolutionized, as it may be any day at the present period, by the steam engine being supplanted by the electro-dynamic motor. By such a sudden change one-fourth of all the workers hitherto employed in that department might become superfluous, as the quantity of products to be brought forth by that department could be created by applying the new invention in three quarters of the time formerly necessary for the process of production. Under the new social system the introduction of such an invention would be a blessing at once for all mankind; for, the one-fourth of workers having become superfluous could be employed to produce luxuries, that formerly could not be produced for the lack of laboring force and time. So, you see, that every new invention, even if it makes ever so many workers superfluous in one branch, will result in an advantageous improvement of the condition of the whole. But, the time will certainly come when all desires of mankind for comfort and enjoyment will be fully satisfied, and if then a new invention should be made, it will be applied for the purpose of reducing the hours of labor of all workers; and so, I think, I have proved to you that our society with its easily manageable organization has in its hands the means of using all new improvements, discoveries or inventions, yea, even every unexpected favor from nature's bountiful treasury for the benefit of every individual, consequently for the benefit of the whole.