How You are Diddled

Industrial Unionist, Volume 1, Issue 8, 1 September 1913, Page 2

How You are Diddled

Take a handful of golden sovereigns, Melt 'em down to a solid square; Of bullion gold take a block the same size (If you have such stuff anywhere !)

Each lump is of equal value, That is, labour-time, congealed; And each might exchange for so many coats As the “ dismal science” has revealed.

Or boots would do, or potatoes; So long as they took as much time To produce by human labour power In workshop, or garden or mine.

Human labour determines the value Of all things sold or exchanged, But the Boss gets three-fourths of the product As things are at present arranged.

You get the rest in wages; One fourth—just enough to live (And “ produce” more slaves for him to exploit) And the reason, put simply, is—

Take a concrete illustration: You make, say, four tables a day. Each one will sell at ten shillings, But all that you get for the day

Is ten shillings—which equals ONE table. The boss gets the other THREE, lie pays you, in gold, the value of one— His “brains” made the others—see ?

But the boss is pretty cunning, And pays men to write of his brains (?) And gives them one table (or its equal in gold) And still has TWO left for his gains.

Knock a little off that for timber, Expenses, etc., and rent, And you get at the “ rate of profit,'.’ Which to swell his account is sent.

But he pays men to keep you well muddled, And you think 11 'cause he gives you jobs” He’s a dam’ good bloke, while the truth of it is It’s you that he slyly robs. So you see you’re not robbed in Parliament ; Then why talk of “ unity” there? Nor is it the man at the corner store Who lays the cunning snare.

No, it’s right at the point of production — In workshops, field and mine Where the toiler is welched of his workproduct— At about three-to-one every time. So organise in the workshop, Direct Action, without , a doubt Is Labour's best method. Get after the Boss, And we’ll soon have him counted out.