22 FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



Labor, under the general laws of man's usefulness and willingness in working, 

 will produce as much capital for its employer, at $1.00 per day, as at $1.50 per 

 day's wages. We say under the general rule of man's power and abihty to 

 work, this is so. In the one instance, labor is the slave; in the other, it is 

 enjoying full liberty. A slave, it is true, will not readily put his will power 

 into working connection with his muscle, while the freeman throws every 

 faculty into harmonious action. Now if the proposition is correct, that capital 

 may be benefited as much by employing labor at 11.00 per day as by paying 

 $1.50 per day for the same work, then we submit that capital has not only 

 wronged labor, but has stolen from labor one-third of — what ? labor's cajjital ? 

 No! For labor being oppressed has not lived — it has only existed, and capital 

 is labor's surplus Capital has stolen from labor and added to itself one-third 

 of labor's living and surplus combined, the surplus being a minimum portion of 

 the theft. Is the proposition correct ? Let us look into the matter, not with a 

 desire simply to prove an assertion, or for the sake of advancing a theory, but 

 to ascertain if it be possible that capital does or can thus wrong labor. To 

 illustrate we will take a community of 1,500 population, surrounded by a 

 jjopulation of 3,000 living upon farms. In the community there are fifty male 

 persons between the ages of sixteen and sixty years who earn their living as 

 wage-workers, but are now out of employment. Some are cari)enters, painters or 

 masons, some are called day-laborers, but not all of the mechanics are properly 

 known as skilled workmen. These men came to this community at different 

 periods, work had been plenty, and savings had been formulated into homes. 



In the history of this community its growth rested, buildings ceased to be 

 ■erected, and the fifty wage-earners spoken of find no work in their usual voca- 

 tions. They have become surplus labor. Idleness being an unsought quan- 

 tity, they ask for work of any character. As mechanics, with work, they could 

 earn $"2.00 or $2.50 per day. At work with which they are unacquainted, they 

 recognize the necessity of an acceptance of less wages, and yet at unskilled 

 labor they are equal to any. In the community there starts a manufacturing 

 industry. In other communities a similar industry is paying upon a basis of 

 ten hours for a day's work $1.50 per day for labor. This establishment wants 

 thirty men; there are fifty idle. So anxious is labor for employment that 

 $1.00 per day being offered, is quickly accepted, and work is commenced. The 

 product of this industry goes upon the market, and is sold at the same price 

 that similar products are selling at, though in once instance labor costs one- 

 third less than in others. Capital has taken advantage of a surplus labor and 

 added to its accumulation at the expense of labor. The twenty men who failed 

 to secure work in the community go to the agricultural districts and seek 

 work. Their labor is wanted, but being competitors they are offered and 

 accept wages below the prevailing rates, because the farmer sees that necessity 

 has compelled them to enter a new field and take what may be offered. Does 

 the farmer make a reduction from the ruling market price of his farm produc- 

 tions because his working pay-roll has been thus decreased? Not at all. Cap- 

 ital has again taken the advantage of labor and added to its accumulation at 

 the expense of labor. 



But, it is said, supply and demand regulate the price. Certainly this is true 

 in the laws that govern production and consumption. It is also true that 

 cheap labor will make cheap goods. In the illustration just noticed 

 the price of labor did not effect the price of products, but it did, and 

 naturally must have, its effect upon the future price of labor, and when 

 wages are generally reduced, then other causes than competition will reduce the 



