increasing the scope of individual happiness.
Every succeeding year of this travel-training, would result in binding
all classes still more firmly together, into one harmonious, homogeneous
mass. Now George, tell me what you think of the good-roads question! Is
it not one affecting the vital interests of humanity to a marvelous
extent?"

"Marvelous, Fillmore! Most marvelous! Hereafter, you can count on me as
an enthusiastic advocate. I cannot say too much in its favor."

CHAPTER XLI.

CO-OPERATIVE ETHICS.

"Speaking of wages," said George Gaylord, "did I understand you to say,
that all of the co-operators at Solaris receive the same pay?"

"Yes, George, equal wages for all classes of workers, is the motto at
Solaris. Recognizing the solidarity of the interests of society, simple
justice demands the same rate of pay for each member of the company;
without regard to sex, or particular qualification."

"It seems to me, Fillmore, that justice would demand that each one
should be paid according to skill and capacity. I cannot understand, how
anyone capable of being a foreman, would be content to accept, as a just
equivalent for his services, a compensation as low as that awarded to
the least capable worker in the colony."

"I think I shall be able to convince you, George, that a correct view of
this question, is largely a matter of education. You have, perhaps
unconsciously, voiced the usual argument against the equity of equality,
which is made by the champions of the competitive system. Our people
have learned from experience, that the co-operative farm movement is a
leveling up process, which purposes to raise the weaker units, to the
condition of the higher. They have learned, that society is a purely
co-operative institution. They have learned, that the wants of society,
create value for the products of labor. Society, then, is labor's
market. In this market, the wants of the weaker units, are just as
important, as are those of the stronger. Stimulated by the number and
variety of these wants, inventive genius has given to us tools and
machinery, which have increased, at least one hundred fold, the capacity
of labor to produce. In the creation of tools and machinery, the mental
acuteness and inventive skill of the weaker unit, often surpasses that
of the stronger. It follows, then, that each one of the weaker units, is
justly entitled to an equal share of the advantages which are conferred
on labor by s