132 EMPLOYERS AND WORKMEN 



high ideal, just as a healthy man fights a dis- 

 covered disorder. The best way of fighting 

 communism is to show the workmen a road that 

 leads to better days for those who are willing to 

 attend to their own interests. 



In the third place, workmen would often wish 

 to leave one business for another, as many of 

 them are now constantly doing. It would be 

 held a grievance if difficulties, liable to be mis- 

 understood, were placed in the way of such 

 perambulations. The power to lay down his 

 tools whenever rebuked is a power held dear by 

 numbers of workmen, and they would hate to 

 let go that power. These men were not perhaps 

 originally restless, but they have become so : 

 they cannot endure rebuke, cannot admit they 

 are wrong ; probably rarely, if ever, feel they are 

 wrong. It is natural. The man of means can, 

 as a rule, well afford to admit he may be wrong, 

 and sometimes that he actually is wrong ; he can 

 try some other plan. 



The man who depends entirely on his wages 

 cannot afford admissions ; he wants his wages ; 

 he must be certain he has earned them ; he is 

 certain; he can stand no statement to the contrary. 

 But though it is necessary to protect the work- 

 men, it is equally necessary to protect the 

 business ; and hence arises the third difficulty. 

 For to be obliged continually and suddenly to 

 reduce, even by small amounts, the capital of 

 the business, that is to take out of the business 

 in this way part of the profits put into it, would 

 be detrimental, as well as exceedingly trouble- 



