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to take account of the disturbances. They are prominent in economic
discussion and constitute the subject of one of the grave indictments
brought against the system of competitive industry. They have actually
caused great hardships in the past, as skilled handicraftsmen have
seen machines come into use which, for rapidity and accuracy of work,
excel the best results that long apprenticeships formerly gave. Now
that machinery has possession of most of the field, there is no longer
the former opportunity for displacing hand workers; but the remainder
of hardships incidental to progress is not to be overlooked. This part
of the dynamic movement involves present local sacrifices for the sake
of future general gains. Here, therefore, there are developed
antagonisms of interest which may hinder progress and, if they were
extensive enough, might conceivably throw a doubt over the future of
the working class. While there is no great disposition to question the
ultimate benefit which mechanical progress insures, there is some
uncertainty as to the process by which this benefit is extended to
workers and there is a struggle to avoid the immediate cost. There is,
in some quarters, a disposition to rate the cost so highly as to draw
the inference that we need to adopt a socialistic plan of living for
the sake of enabling workers to avoid the hardships and secure the
benefits of "labor saving." It will appear, however, if we grasp the
essential facts of what we may call the dynamics of method, that the
tendency of it is to reduce the burdens which progress entails, and to
diffuse a large share of the benefits of it among the working class.
It will further appear that the socialistic plan of organizing
industry would at least throw a doubt over the progress itself.
Nothing, on the whole, puts the future of industry conducted on the
competitive plan in a more optimistic light than the fact of the
progress in productive methods which it insures. It is the strongest
guaranty of a "good time coming," in which all humanity will rejoice
when it comes and should rejoice by anticipation.

_The Law that insures the Survival of Beneficial Processes Only._--It
is self-evident that wherever there is a saving of labor needed to
make a given amount and kind of product, there is an increase in the
possible product that is created by the aid of a given amount of
labor. If workers themselves get a share of the gains, this fact will
show itself