LIVING WAGE VS. STARVATION POINT

44 wealth to the laborers side of the equa tion and make the condition of the work ing classes much more tolerable Something can be done by the will of the employer Much. I believe is done in this way to prevent the reduction of wages below the starvation point. We are told that the natural law of supply and demand controls the rate of wages but much can be done by men of good will to modify the working of natural laws Men who resolutely determine that their employés shall not work for less than a living wage if they can help it are often able to check to a considerable ex tent the downward tendency. I have a friend who set out in business with the determination that no man working for him should receive less than a dollar and a half a day but he is protected by a patent and his business is not subject to the law of competition.

The wages of his men are kept up to this high mini mum by a voluntary contribution from his surplus profits. He recognizes this fact and knows that many other em ployers cannot follow his example.