218 Evolution of the Wages System. 



and social degradation, differing from slavery only in name ; 

 that it is necessarily inimical to industrial development, 

 the growth of individual freedom and a progressive civiliza- 

 tion. Consequently, the hand of the social reformer with- 

 out regard to his constructive tenets is everywhere raised 

 against the wages system. Whether he be Anarchist, 

 Nationalist, Green-backer, Land Nationalizer or Socialist, 

 the first step in his march towards the millennium is the 

 abolition of the wages system. 



It may be frankly admitted that the wages system is 

 an essential part of the capitalistic system of production, 

 and an indispensable feature of modern industrial methods. 

 But is it necessarily an evil, economically or socially ? is 

 the first question to settle. If the wages system is inhe- 

 rently inimical to progress, nothing can justify its perpet- 

 uation. The prime question for the statesman and social 

 philosopher to consider is human progress. All industrial 

 conditions, social influences and institutions should be 

 promoted or restrained according as they contribute to this 

 end. There is nothing too sacred to be abolished in order 

 to promote social advancement. If socialism is necessary 

 to progress I am a socialist. I am in favor of revolution 

 if revolution will do it. But Avill it do it ? Is socialism 

 necessary to progress ? are questions that must be satisfac- 

 torily answered before such methods of reform can be 

 justified. Whether or not the wages system is inimical to 

 progress and tends to prevent the growth of individual and 

 social freedom can only be determined by a comprehensive 

 study of the evolution of the wages system. This involves 

 the consideration of (1) the meaning of wages and the dis- 

 tinctive economic characteristics of the wages system. (2) 

 The origin and historic development of the wages system and 

 the influences which promoted its growth. (3) The rela- 

 tion of the wages system to material improvement, individ- 

 ual development and a progressive civilization. 



THE MEAXIXG OF WAGES AND THE DISTINCTIVE ECONOMIC' 

 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WAGES SYSTEM. 



Wages may be defined as the price of labor or service. 

 Since price always implies a sale, the price of labor is 

 necessarily a stipulated amount given by another to the 

 laborer for his service. Thus wages are not, as is often 

 assumed, what the laborer produces, nor the value of that 



