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136 METHODS OF SOCXAL REFORM.
“(3.) The telonta of all oonnected with it would be strongly directed
to its improvement in every department.
*‘(4.) None bot workmen of high chamter and qualifications could
obtain admission into mch establishmcnts ; becausc, when any additional
hmds wero required, it would be the oommon interest of all to admit
only tho most respectable and skilfol ; and it wmld be far Icss easy
to impose upon a dozen workmen than upon a singlo proprietor of a
fsctOry.”
The sixth advantage is perhaps the most important, namely,
the total removal of all real or imaginary causes for combination.
“Tho workmcr~ and capitalists,” says Mr. Babbnge, ‘‘ would so shade
into each othcr-would no eoidenlly have B common interest, and their
difficultios and distresses would bo mutually so well understood, that,
instoad of combining to oppress one another, tho only combination
which could esist would be B most powerful union trefzcce~s both parties
to overcomo their common difficulties.”
To tho following remarks I would especially draw the
attention of capit,alists, sinm they clearly point out tho mistakes
into which tho Trades Union Commissioners have fallen
upon this point.
“One of tho difficulties attonding such a rnystem is, that cBpitalists
would at first fear to embark in it, imagining that the workmen would
roceivc too large a share of the profits; and it is quite trne that tho
workmen would haw a larger share than at present : but, at tho same
time. it is presomed the effect of thc wholo system would be, that the
total profits of the establishment being much increased, the smaller
proportion allowed to cnpitd under this system would yet bo greater in
actual amount than that which rcsults to it from the larger share in
the aystem now existing.”
It would be impossible more clearly to anticipate the
doubts which have been felt, and the solution of t,hose doubts
which has been given by actual experience. Mr. Babbage’s
remarks about the interference of the law of partnership are
rendered inapplicable by the alteration of the lam, and the
difEcalty he notices concerning the discharge of incompetent
or ill-behaved workmen does not affect the scheme I am
advocating, in which the absolute power of management
resides in the hands of the proprietors,