SOCIALISM AND THE FARMING INTEREST 



markets and speculation; through tyranni- 

 cal socialism, amounting to slavery, might 

 accomplish a good deal in that direction. 



The proposed socialism would not pre- 

 vent crises. Crops may fail or immense 

 conflagrations or epidemics occur as now. 

 Ups and downs in the value of money may 

 also take place. Any improvement in these 

 respects is as likely without socialism as 

 with it. Strikes and lockouts will also still 

 be possible. Friction between capital and 

 labor is in no wise certain to be abolished 

 by making the public the sole employer. 

 The form of the boss system must continue 

 under socialism. At present wage scales 

 are rarely drawn up by the actual owners 

 of properties. Agents, managers, superin- 

 tendents do this. Such functionaries would 

 still be required prevailing socialism and 

 one of them and the workers under him 

 might disagree upon wages as now. The 

 general public, owning all things, would 

 likely enough insist on high wages, but then 

 as now, a special group of laborers may de- 

 mand remuneration which cannot be con- 



305 



