the ragged trousered philanthropists-第105章

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killed　work。　　Very　few　of　them　would　be　worth　their　salt　as　journeymen。　　The　only　work　they　do　is　to　scheme　to　reap　the　benefit　of　the　labour　of　others。

‘The　men　who　now　become　managers　and　foremen　are　selected　not　because　of　their　ability　as　craftsmen；　but　because　they　are　good　slave…drivers　and　useful　producers　of　profit　for　their　employers。'

‘How　are　you　goin'　to　prevent　the　selfish　and　cunnin'；　as　you　call　'em；　from　gettin'　on　top　THEN　as　they　do　now？'　said　Harlow。

‘The　fact　that　all　workers　will　receive　the　same　pay；　no　matter　what　class　of　work　they　are　engaged　in；　or　what　their　position；　will　ensure　our　getting　the　very　best　man　to　do　all　the　higher　work　and　to　organize　our　business。'

Crass　laughed：　‘What！　　Everybody　to　get　the　same　wages？'

‘Yes：　there　will　be　such　an　enormous　quantity　of　everything　produced；　that　their　wages　will　enable　everyone　to　purchase　abundance　of　everything　they　require。　　Even　if　some　were　paid　more　than　others　they　would　not　be　able　to　spend　it。　　There　would　be　no　need　to　save　it；　and　as　there　will　be　no　starving　poor；　there　will　be　no　one　to　give　it　away　to。　　If　it　were　possible　to　save　and　accumulate　money　it　would　bring　into　being　an　idle　class；　living　on　their　fellows：　it　would　lead　to　the　downfall　of　our　system；　and　a　return　to　the　same　anarchy　that　exists　at　present。　　Besides；　if　higher　wages　were　paid　to　those　engaged　in　the　higher　work　or　occupying　positions　of　authority　it　would　prevent　our　getting　the　best　men。　　Unfit　persons　would　try　for　the　positions　because　of　the　higher　pay。　　That　is　what　happens　now。　Under　the　present　system　men　intrigue　for　and　obtain　or　are　pitchforked　into　positions　for　which　they　have　no　natural　ability　at　all；　the　only　reason　they　desire　these　positions　is　because　of　the　salaries　attached　to　them。　　These　fellows　get　the　money　and　the　work　is　done　by　underpaid　subordinates　whom　the　world　never　hears　of。　Under　Socialism；　this　money　incentive　will　be　done　away　with；　and　consequently　the　only　men　who　will　try　for　these　positions　will　be　those　who；　being　naturally　fitted　for　the　work；　would　like　to　do　it。　For　instance　a　man　who　is　a　born　organizer　will　not　refuse　to　undertake　such　work　because　he　will　not　be　paid　more　for　it。　　Such　a　man　will　desire　to　do　it　and　will　esteem　it　a　privilege　to　be　allowed　to　do　it。　　He　will　revel　in　it。　　To　think　out　all　the　details　of　some　undertaking；　to　plan　and　scheme　and　organize；　is　not　work　for　a　man　like　that。　　It　is　a　pleasure。　　But　for　a　man　who　has　sought　and　secured　such　a　position；　not　because　he　liked　the　work；　but　because　he　liked　the　salary　…　such　work　as　this　would　be　unpleasant　labour。　Under　Socialism　the　unfit　man　would　not　apply　for　that　post　but　would　strive　after　some　other　for　which　he　was　fit　and　which　he　would　therefore　desire　and　enjoy。　　There　are　some　men　who　would　rather　have　charge　of　and　organize　and　be　responsible　for　work　than　do　it　with　their　hands。　　There　are　others　who　would　rather　do　delicate　or　difficult　or　artistic　work；　than　plain　work。　　A　man　who　is　a　born　artist　would　rather　paint　a　frieze　or　a　picture　or　carve　a　statue　than　he　would　do　plain　work；　or　take　charge　of　and　direct　the　labour　of　others。　　And　there　are　another　sort　of　men　who　would　rather　do　ordinary　plain　work　than　take　charge；　or　attempt　higher　branches　for　which　they　have　neither　liking　or　natural　talent。

‘But　there　is　one　thing　…　a　most　important　point　that　you　seem　to　entirely　lose　sight　of；　and　that　is；　that　all　these　different　kinds　and　classes　are　equal　in　one　respect　…　THEY　ARE　ALL　EQUALLY　NECESSARY。　Each　is　a　necessary　and　indispensable　part　of　the　whole；　therefore　everyone　who　has　done　his　full　share　of　necessary　work　is　justly　entitled　to　a　full　share　of　the　results。　　The　men　who　put　the　slates　on　are　just　as　indispensable　as　the　men　who　lay　the　foundations。　　The　work　of　the　men　who　build　the　walls　and　make　the　doors　is　just　as　necessary　as　the　work　of　the　men　who　decorate　the　cornice。　　None　of　them　would　be　of　much　use　without　the　architect；　and　the　plans　of　the　architect　would　come　to　nothing；　his　building　would　be　a　mere　castle　in　the　air；　if　it　were　not　for　the　other　workers。　　Each　part　of　the　work　is　equally　necessary；　useful　and　indispensable　if　the　building　is　to　he　perfected。　　Some　of　these　men　work　harder　with　their　brains　than　with　their　hands　and　some　work　harder　with　their　hands　than　with　their　brains；　BUT　EACH　ONE　DOES　HIS　FULL　SHARE　OF　THE　WORK。　　This　truth　will　be　recognized　and　acted　upon　by　those　who　build　up　and　maintain　the　fabric　of　our　Co…operative　Commonwealth。　　Every　man　who　does　his　full　share　of　the　useful　and　necessary　work　according　to　his　abilities　shall　have　his　full　share　of　the　total　result。　　Herein　will　be　its　great　difference　from　the　present　system；　under　which　it　is　possible　for　the　cunning　and　selfish　ones　to　take　advantage　of　the　simplicity　of　others　and　rob　them　of　part　of　the　fruits　of　their　labour。　　As　for　those　who　will　be　engaged　in　the　higher　branches；　they　will　be　sufficiently　rewarded　by　being　privileged　to　do　the　work　they　are　fitted　for　and　enjoy。　　The　only　men　and　women　who　are　capable　of　good　and　great　work　of　any　kind　are　those　who；　being　naturally　fit　for　it；　love　the　work　for　its　own　sake　and　not　for　the　money　it　brings　them。　Under　the　present　system；　many　men　who　have　no　need　of　money　produce　great　works；　not　for　gain　but　for　pleasure：　their　wealth　enables　them　to　follow　their　natural　inclinations。　　Under　the　present　system　many　men　and　women　capable　of　great　works　are　prevented　from　giving　expression　to　their　powers　by　poverty　and　lack　of　opportunity：　they　live　in　sorrow　and　die　heartbroken；　and　the　community　is　the　loser。　These　are　the　men　and　women　who　will　be　our　artists；　sculptors；　architects；　engineers　and　captains　of　industry。

‘Under　the　present　system　there　are　men　at　the　head　of　affairs　whose　only　object　is　the　accumulation　of　money。　　Some　of　them　possess　great　abilities　and　the　system　has　practically　compelled　them　to　employ　those　abilities　for　their　own　selfish　ends　to　the　hurt　of　the　community。　　Some　of　them　have　built　up　great　fortunes　out　of　the　sweat　and　blood　and　tears　of　men　and　women　and　little　children。　　For　those　who　delight　in　such　work　as　this；　there　will　be　no　place　in　our　Co…operative　Commonwealth。'

‘Is　there　any　more　questions？'　demanded　Philpot。

‘Yes；'　said　Harlow。　　‘If　there　won't　be　no　extry　pay　and　if　anybody　will　have　all　they　need　for　just　doing　their　part　of　the　work；　what　encouragement　will　there　be　for　anyone　to　worry　his　brains　out　trying　to　invent　some　new　machine；　or　make　some　new　discovery？'

‘Well；'　said　Barrington；　‘I　think　that's　covered　by　the　last　answer；　but　if　it　were　found　necessary　…　which　is　highly　improbable　…　to　offer　some　material　reward　in　addition　to　the　respect；　esteem　or　honour　that　would　be　enjoyed　by　the　author　of　an　invention　that　was　a　boon　to　the　community；　it　could　be　arranged　by　allowing　him　to　retire　before　the　expiration　of　his　twenty…five　years　service。　　The　boon　he　had　conferred　on　the　community　by　the　invention；　would　be　considered　equivalent　to　so　many　years　work。　　But　a　man　like　that　would　not　desire　to　cease　working；　that　sort　go　on　working　all　their　lives；　for　love。　　There's　Edison　for　instance。　　He　is　one　of　the　very　few　inventors　who　have　made　money　out　of　their　work；　he　is　a　rich　man；　but　the　only　use　his　wealth　seems　to　be　to　him　is　to　procure　himself　facilities　for　going　on　with　his　work；　his　life　is　a　round　of　what　some　people　would　call　painful　labour：　but　it　is　not　painful　labour　to　him；　it's　just　pleasure；　he　works　for　the　love　of　it。　　Another　way　would　be　to　absolve　a　man　of　that　sort　from　the　necessity　of　ordinary　work；　so　as　to　give　him　a　chance　to　get　on　with　other　inventions。　　It　would　be　to　the　interests　of　the　community　to　encourage　him　in　every　way　and　to　place　materials　and　facilities　at　his　disposal。

‘But　you　must　remember　that　even　under　the　present　system；　Honour　and　Praise　are　held　to　be　greater　than　money。　　How　many　soldiers　would　prefer　money　to　the　honour　of　wearing　the　intrinsically　valueless　Victoria　Cross？

‘Even　now　men　think　less　of　money　than　they　do　of　the　respect；　esteem　or　honour　they　are　able　to　procure　with　it。　　Many　men　spend　the　greater　part　of　their　lives　striving　to　accumulate　money；　and　when　they　have　succeeded；　they　proceed　to　spend　it　to　obtain　the　respect　of　their　fellow…men。　　Some　of　them　spend　thousands　of　pounds　for　the　honour　of　being　able　to　write　〃MP〃　after　their　names。　　Others　buy　titles。　　Others　pay　huge　sums　to　gain　admission　to　exclusive　circles　of　society。　　Others　give　the　money　away　in　charity；　or　found　libraries　or　universities。　　The　reason　they　do　these　things　is　that　they　desire　to　be　applauded　and　honoured　by　their　fellow…men。

‘This　desire　is　strongest　in　the　most　capable　men　…　the　men　of　genius。　Therefore；　under　Socialism　the　principal　incentive　to　great　work　will　be　the　same　as　now　…　Honour　and　Praise。　　But；　under　the　present　system；　Honour　and　Praise　can　be　bought　with　money；　and　it　does　not　matter　much　how　the　money　was　obtained。

‘Under　Socialism　it　will　be　different。　　The　Cross　of　Honour　and　the　Laurel　Crown　will　not　be　bought　and　sold　for　filthy　lucre。　　They　will　be　the　supreme　rewards　of　Virtue　and　of　Talent。'

‘Anyone　else　like　to　be　flattened　Out？'　inquired　Philpot。

‘What　would　you　do　with　them　what　spends　all　their　money　in　drink？'　asked　Slyme。

‘I　might　reasonably　ask　you；　〃What's　done　with　them　or　what　you　propose　to　do　with　them　now？〃　　There　are　many　men　and　women　whose　lives　are　so　full　of　toil　and　sorrow　and　the　misery　caused　by　abject　poverty；　who　are　so　shut　out　from　all　that　makes　life　worth　living；　that　the　time　they　spend　in　the　public　house　is　the　only　ray　of　sunshine　in　their　cheerless　lives。　　Their　mental　and　material　poverty　is　so　great　that　they　are　deprived　of　and　incapable　of　understanding　the　intellectual　and　social　pleasures　of　civilization。。。　　Under　Socialism　there　will　be　no　such　class　as　this。　　Everyone　will　be　educated；　and　social　life　and　rational　pleasure　will　be　within　the　reach　of　all。　　Therefore　we　do　not　believe　that　there　will　be　such　a　class。　　Any　individuals　who　abandoned　themselves　to　such　a　course　would　be　avoided　by　their　fellows；　but　if　they　became　very　degraded；　we　should　still　remember　that　they　were　our　brother　men　and　women；　and　we　should　regard　them　as　suffering　from　a　disease　inherited　from　their　uncivilized　forefathers　and　try　to　cure　them　by　placing　them　under　some　restraint：　in　an　institute　for　instance。'

‘Another　good　way　to　deal　with　'em；'　said　Harlow；　‘would　be　to　allow　them　double　pay；　so　as　they　could　drink　themselves　to　death。　　We　could　do　without　the　likes　of　them。'

‘Call　the　next　case；'　said　Philpot。

‘This　'ere　abundance　that　you're　always　talking　about；'　said　Crass；　you　can't　be　sure　that　it　would　be　possible　to　produce　all　that。　You're　only　assoomin'　that　it　could　be　done。'

Barrington　pointed　to　the　still　visible　outlines　of　the　‘Hoblong'　that　Owen　had　drawn　on　the　wall　to　illustrate　a　previous　lecture。

‘Even　under　the　present　silly　system　of　restricted　production；　with　the　majority　of　the　population　engaged　in　useless；　unproductive；　unnecessary　work；　and　large　numbers　never　doing　any　work　at　all；　there　is　enough　produced　to　go　all　r