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Show MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM WAGES. No doubt there is much truth In tho statement that "Increased wages are a paramount and unavoidable neces-slay," neces-slay," particularly In theso days, when we hoar so much of the Increased cost of living; but we have to remember. HrBt that some portion of the ln-oreasod ln-oreasod cost of living Is due to tho Increased In-creased demands of labor, and that even if by law a minimum wage and a maximum working day wero granted, grant-ed, there is, apparently, no method by which labor can be hold to abide by the contract Into which it has on-I on-I tered. If the margin of profit Is kopt down I to a minimum bv a system of free and ' sometimes unfair competition, and it by frequent increases in tho minimum wage for labor the margin of profit should disappear entirely, then, as a natural consequence of economic law, the fluid capital of the capitalist and probably the capitalist himself will disappear from the country. In other words, the Industry which had hitherto hith-erto employed the worker would either itBelf disappear or be reduced to a minimum. It is therefore, evident that thoro Is a maximum beyond which wages cannot can-not bo raised unless the whole machinery ma-chinery of Industry is to atop. This may suit the academic Socialist who yearns for all Industry to bo directed by Btato officials, hut It would Inevitably In-evitably mean chaos and national ruin. It may be admitted frankly that the maximum has not yet been reached .under existing conditions, and It can be raised by a system of protectlvo duties which would Insure employment employ-ment at good rates for all fit and competent com-petent persons. Every sane man agrees that the state where the Industrious In-dustrious and competent cannot earn an ndequato livelihood Is in a bad way. Tariff reform Is the first essential es-sential stop towaid the remoal of the evil. London Express. ' |