Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/586

 57 2 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

capital, but the value of the power of levying tribute, directly or indirectly, upon the capital, as well as persons, engaged in every other industry, while at the same time reducing the wages of labor to the point of the barest subsistence. Would not the destruction of this fictitious capital and wealth encourage real capital, not only in other industries, but in the coal industry itself? The abolition of slavery demonstrated that the author is mistaken in his claim that the welfare of the community was safeguarded by that institution. Is he not also mistaken in his assertion that the welfare of the whole community is safeguarded by the institution of millionaires ?

Every footman and lackey and ladies' maid is a possible producer, instead of consumer, of wealth. Under the improved conditions that might follow the adoption of the plan proposed by John Stuart Mill is it likely that there would be more waste of capital than there is at present in sumptuous palaces, steam yachts, and worse dissipations of the non-producing class ? Upon this important economic question the author of this work throws no light.

While for reasons already stated this work may prove of no incon- siderable value to the well-equipped investigator, its use by others, it seems to the reviewer, can only lead to confusion of thought and incorrect conclusions.

H. L. BLISS.