Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/868

 854 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

Among trade-unionists there are conservatives, individualists, and collectivists, as among other citizens. Therefore it is not wise for trade-union congresses to discuss the land question, municipalization of monopolies, and other problems about which they know no more than their fellow-citizens, and on which they cannot agree.

Part III deals with "Trade-Union Theory." According to the ancient and rigid form of the wage-fund theory, there seemed to be no possibility of affecting the rate of wages by combination. It was a simple question of division : so much fund set apart for wages divided by the number of workmen, and the individual wage rate is found. This theory the authors examine in the light of recent economic dis- cussion, and conclude that it is definitely abandoned. In a similar way they criticise the use made of the population doctrine. In the present form of these theories they find nothing inconsistent with mod- erate trade-union claims, and they accept the verdict of economists as substantially valid.

Under the head, " Economic Characteristics of Trade-Unionism," we find a critical estimate of the methods and regulations of the unions. The device of restriction of numbers is no longer much used, and is practically obsolete. It goes with the abandoned wage-fund theory ; it would prevent selection of the best workmen and would restrict the extension of business. The ease with which a man can pass from one occupation to another kills this device. The device of the common rule and minimum wage is more efficacious. Its tendency is to com- pel managers to select the more capable workmen. The parasitic trades are not only an obstacle to the unions, but a burden to society; for the incapable who are not supported by the wages of their calling must depend partly on charity. The minimum of support should be fixed by law and enforced by factory rules. These regulations will leave a residuum who cannot find any place in competitive industry, the unem- ployable. These persons are already largely supported by alms or theft, and society must provide for them in a way which will remove them from the misery and ruin of their present situation and from the possibility of dragging down the capable and industrious wage-earners, who, with- out this dead weight about their necks, could take care of themselves. The unemployable would be collected in non-competing colonies, and their imperfect labor so directed that they could earn at least more for themselves than they are doing now. Mr. Charles Booth had some time since reached a similar conclusion. It would mean something