248 PRINCIPLES OF RURAL ECONOMICS 



be that the economic advantages would lie on the side of large- 

 scale production, where men could be worked in gangs, rather 

 than on the side of medium- or small-scale production. 'But if a 

 high scale of intelligence, efficiency, and initiative can be main- 

 tained on the part of the mass of the agricultural workers, there 

 is not the slightest reason to expect that large-scale production 

 will ever become the rule in agriculture. The only chance for the 

 advocate of large-scale production is the importation of masses 

 of cheap coolie labor to fill up our land and crowd out the inde- 

 pendent, self-respecting, native farmers. 



Dear vs. cheap labor. This reveals one of the fundamental 

 antagonisms of interest among the different classes of our pop- 

 ulation. The class, small as yet in this country, which owns 

 land but does not work with its own hands, is interested in get- 

 ting a large mass of cheap labor which will enable it to cultivate 

 the land more profitably and increase the income from it. The 

 class which labors with its hands but does not own land is in- 

 terested, for obvious reasons, in keeping labor dear or wages 

 high. But the middle class, which both owns land and works 

 with its own hands, is divided in its interests. As owners of 

 land, the members of this class would like to see high rents, 

 but as workers they would like to see labor well remunerated. 

 So long as the mass of the farmers of the country belong to 

 this class there are not likely to be labor difficulties or conflicts 

 between property owners and wage earners. 



A large mass of cheap labor would inevitably result in a sep- 

 aration of classes. So long as we have cheap land and dear labor 

 the way is easy from the position of farm hand to farm owner. 

 Wages being high, it is easy for the farm hand to save money. 

 Land being cheap, it is easy for him to buy land. Therefore 

 every farm hand who will practice ordinary thrift and foresight 

 may reasonably expect to become a farm owner. Barring sick- 

 ness or accident, there is no excuse for him if he does not. 



