168. THE NATURE OF JUSTICE.--Among the advocates of socialism the word
"justice" is much used, but apparently little understood. Justice in
industry implies that every individual shall receive precisely what he
earns, no more, no less. If a monopolist secures unearned profits,
there is injustice. If a laborer adds to the value of a product to the
extent of five dollars, there is injustice if he receives less than
five dollars in wages. Similarly, there is injustice if the laborer
earns only four dollars, but receives five dollars. Wherever there is
an unfair distribution of wealth, there is a double injustice: some
individual gets a share of wealth which he did not earn and to which,
therefore, he is not entitled; while the individual who did earn that
wealth is deprived of it.

169. THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS.--All right-thinking reformers will agree
with the socialist that much or all of the unearned wealth of the
moneyed classes ought to be taken for the benefit of the community.
But he who accepts the democratic program of industrial reform will
not sanction the socialist's proposal to eliminate poverty primarily
by decreeing higher wages.

In the first place, this proposal of the socialist is unjust. A man
who earns three dollars a day may not be able to live on that amount,
and it may be desirable for some agency to give him more than three
dollars a day. But that would be charity, not justice. It would be, as
we have just seen, a double injustice.

In the second place, such a practice would lead inevitably to national
bankruptcy. Under the competitive system, wages tend to be determined
by productivity. To attempt to eradicate poverty primarily by the