Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/335

 tion in which there is an over-produ6lion, causing idleness occasionally to both capital and kbor, while at the same time some lack the employment which would enable them to procure necessities and luxuries and thus in a measure cure the over-produ<5lion. And the tendency toward both over-produdtion and lack of employment is on the in- crease, and calls for a remedy of some kind which society's physicians are seeking, but of which the patient will not make use.

While, therefore (continues the wage-worker), we realize that as the supply begins to exceed the demand, compe- tition is greatly reducing the profits of capital and ma- chinery, and throughout the world is distressing the rich by curtailing their profits, and in some cases causing them a6lual loss instead of profit, yet we believe that the class which benefited most by the "boom'* and inflation should suffer most in the reaction, rather than that the masses should suffer from it. To this end, and for these reasons, wage- workers are moving to obtain the following results by legislation if possible, or by force and lawlessness in coun- tries where, for any cause, the voice of the masses is not heard, and the interests of the masses are not conserved :

It is proposed that the hours of labor be shortened in proportion to the skill or severity of the labor, without a reduction of wages, in order thus to employ a greater num- ber of persons without increasing the products, and thus to equalize the coming over-produftion by providing a larger number with the means of purchasing. It is pro- posed to fix and limit the rate of interest on money at much less than the present rates, and thus compel a leniency of the lenders toward the borrowers or poorer class, or else an idleness or rusting of their capital. It is proposed that railroads shall either be the property of the people, op- erated by their servants, government officials, or that legisla-

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