ause of the lifelong poverty of the
majority of those who are not drunkards and who DO work? Why, if all
the drunkards and won't-works and unskilled or inefficient workers
could be by some miracle transformed into sober, industrious and
skilled workers tomorrow, it would, under the present conditions, be so
much the worse for us, because there isn't enough work for all NOW and
those people by increasing the competition for what work there is,
would inevitably cause a reduction of wages and a greater scarcity of
employment. The theories that drunkenness, laziness or inefficiency
are the causes of poverty are so many devices invented and fostered by
those who are selfishly interested in maintaining the present states of
affairs, for the purpose of preventing us from discovering the real
causes of our present condition.'

'Well, if we're all wrong,' said Crass, with a sneer, 'praps you can
tell us what the real cause is?'

'An' praps you think you know how it's to be altered,' remarked Harlow,
winking at the others.

'Yes; I do think I know the cause,' declared Owen, 'and I do think I
know how it could be altered--'

'It can't never be haltered,' interrupted old Linden. 'I don't see no
sense in all this 'ere talk. There's always been rich and poor in the
world, and there always will be.'

'Wot I always say is there 'ere,' remarked Philpot, whose principal
characteristic--apart from thirst--was a desire to see everyone
comfortable, and who hated rows of any kind. 'There ain't no use in
the likes of us trubblin our 'eds or quarrelin about politics. It
don't make a dam bit of difference who you votes for or who gets in.
They're hall the same; workin the horicle for their own benefit. You
can talk till you're black in the face, but you won't never be able to
alter it. It's no use worrying. The sensible thing is to try and make
the best of things as we find 'em: enjoy ourselves, and do the best we
can for each other. Life's too short to quarrel and we'll hall soon be
dead!'

At the end of this lengthy speech, the philosophic Philpot abstractedly
grasped a jam-jar and raised it to his lips; but suddenly remembering
that it contained stewed tea and not beer, set it down again without
drinking.

'Let us begin at the beginning,' continued Owen, taking no notice of
these interruptions. 'First of all, what do you mean by Poverty?'

'Why, if you've got no money, of course,' said Crass impatiently.

The others la