554 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



low wage. " Thus division of labor is, in the last analysis, nothing but 

 one of those processes of adaptation that play so great a part in the 

 evolutionary history of the whole inhabited world: adaptation of the 

 tasks of labor to the variety of human powers, adaptation of individuals 

 to the tasks to be performed, continued differentiation of the one and 

 of the other." 4 But, if this differentiation is carried so far as to tie 

 the individuals down to such a narrow routine as to prevent their 

 rising in the scale of life, it is a bar to human progress. The immi- 

 grant is one of the causes of subdivision of labor. Where labor unions 

 are strong enough to establish a minimum wage, some modifications 

 may be looked for ; but the question which society must face is : Can 

 society afford to allow certain of its members to be reduced to the 

 condition of human automatons? If it is held that certain classes 

 in the community can not be improved or raised to a higher level, then 

 indeed the caste form of society is treading close upon the heels of 

 the American people. 



Division of labor, perhaps even minute subdivision of labor, may be 

 considered to be a permanent factor in industry. Modern industry is 

 more productive, many times more productive, per worker, than the 

 older, more simple forms; and as a result a shorter working day is 

 allowed the worker. This grinding, unvarying, monotonous, joyless 

 sort of working period should be balanced by broader social life, by 

 better, more elevating use of leisure time. In short, as one's work be- 

 comes exact and narrowing, one's leisure time should bring variety 

 and breadth of experience. The suffrage has been extended to prac- 

 tically all the male population over twenty-one years of age; but in 

 order to exercise the franchise intelligently, as was recognized in the 

 days of Plato and Aristotle, the citizen must have leisure time to study 

 and discuss the social and political problems of the day. If this leisure 

 time is not properly or wisely utilized ; the " boss " and the " machine " 

 nourish. The great multiplicity of clashing interests also offers oppor- 

 tunity for the shrewd and unscrupulous politician to play interest 

 against interest, and to win political control and personal gain through 

 careful manipulation. In any industrial democracy, the problem of the 

 utilization of leisure becomes one of the important and vital problems. 



Looking at education from a purely economic point of view, aside 

 from ethical considerations, the aim should be to develop not only more 

 efficient producers, but also more efficient consumers. All men must be 

 considered from the side of consumption as well as of production. The 

 end and aim of normal economic activity is consumption of economic 

 goods. Other things being equal, consumption should be directed 

 toward those articles which the country is best adapted to produce; it 

 should also be directed away from the excessive demand for the raw 



* Biicher, " Industrial Evolution," p. 299. 



