`All these Members of Parliament would be the relatives - in some cases the mothers and fathers of those in the Industrial Service, and they would be relied upon to see that the conditions of that service were the best possible.
`As for the different branches of the State Service, they could be organized on somewhat the same lines as the different branches of the Public Service are now - like the Navy, the Post Office and as the State Railways in some other countries, or as are the different branches of the Military Army, with the difference that all promotions will be from the ranks, by examinations, and by merit only.As every recruit will have had the same class of education they will all have absolute equality of opportunity and the men who would attain to positions of authority would be the best men, and not as at present, the worst.'
`How do you make that out?' demanded Crass.
`Under the present system, the men who become masters and employers succeed because they are cunning and selfish, not because they understand or are capable of doing the work out of which they make their money.Most of the employers in the building trade for instance would be incapable of doing any skilled 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.