A PROGRAM OF RADICAL DEMOCRACY 613 



and those who earn more should have more. Subsidies to children are 

 for the benefit of the nation and the race as well as of the individual. 

 Those we now give, such as free education, should be extended, until the 

 cost of bearing, supporting and educating each child is borne equally 

 by every one. The means for a healthy life should be provided for 

 every child, and all possible opportunities for well-born and promising 

 children. The care of children is dominant above every other privi- 

 lege or duty of the individual and the state. Children are now sup- 

 ported by the resources of society, and with our existing wealth two or 

 three times as much could and should be spent on each child. When 

 the state attends to this the taxation will be large, but not unmanage- 

 able. The chairman of the committee on ways and means of the house 

 of representatives estimates that a one-per-cent. tax on incomes above 

 $5,000 will yield $60,000,000. The wealth wasted or saved from large 

 incomes would consequently yield $200 for each child under sixteen. 

 This sum will suffice, temporarily, if the locality provides schools, books, 

 meals, medical service, etc. 



14. A maximum day's worTc of eight Jiours and a minimum wage 

 of two dollars. No child labor, except what is of benefit to the child. 

 A maximum annual income for an individual of $5,000; a maximum 

 inheritance of $50,000. Those who can't or won't work must be pro- 

 vided with the necessities of life. Those who can and will work should 

 have not less than two dollars a day at the present purchasing power 

 of money, and work must be provided for all. Eight hours is a day 

 long enough for employment, but more can be accomplished by those 

 who wish to devote more hours to useful work. Child labor, except for 

 the benefit of the child, is absolutely intolerable. The average annual 

 income of those who work is about $1,000 in Great Britain and in the 

 United States. If idleness and waste can be eliminated it will be about 

 $3,000, including women who care for the home. Under existing con- 

 ditions, if the minimum wage is $600, an ample margin is allowed for 

 competition, and every one can save money. The average wage being 

 $1,000 there may be numerous individual incomes as large as $2,000 to 

 $5,000, or $4,000 to $10,000 for a family. This is as large as any in- 

 come should be, so long as the average income is $1,000. Each indi- 

 vidual would in addition have by inheritance his home and his tools of 

 production, his share of the wealth held by the nation, the state, the 

 county, etc. But the inheritance of no individual should exceed 

 $50,000. Incomes would be doubled by the suppression of idleness, 

 mismanagement and waste and can be again doubled by the further 

 advances of the applications of science. This fourfold increase of 

 wealth will probably be available before any such partial equalization by 

 taxation as is here proposed becomes feasible. Eoom can be left for 

 competition and savings so long as such incentives are needed. We 



