" Reblong checked
the items off on his fingers, meanwhile eying his companion
steadily: "It has done away with the liquor traffic; it has fully
protected women in industry; it has put an end to child labor; it
has abolished poverty; it has abolished war; and"--with considerable
emphasis for so quiet a man--"it has provided you and me and
everybody else with a mighty fine education, free of charge!"
Reblong's manner, by its very emphasis, had the effect of making the
other man suddenly quite cool. "Correct; I admit them all. And at
the same time I want to show you that the commission has
accomplished all this, not primarily for our benefit, but in the
interests of the owners.
"They gave us prohibition because drinking was bad for business; no
other reason, Reblong! And that's why the women are protected, too;
a protected, contented woman brings in better dividends to the
owners than one who is worked to death.
"Neither did it pay to allow child labor; it resulted in misery and
reduced production, in the long run, and that meant reduced
dividends.
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