No Room for the Old,

and little for the elderly. In the rush of competitive trade on its present basis, the workman is soon laid on the shelf. He is probably abler—especially if he be a skilled artisan or member of a strong Trade Union—to earn a larger wage during his prime than 50 or 100 years ago. But his prime comes sooner to an end than formerly. Some remarkable evidence has recently been published as to the influence of age upon wage-earning capacity in different trades; and to this I would ask the attention of Trade Unionists who think that everything can be done by a fuller development of Trade Unionism, and who are not yet convinced of the wisdom—indeed, the necessity—of large political action on behalf of labour. A workman attains the full wage-earning capacity about 25; it may be a year or two sooner or later. His chances of obtaining employment remain at their height for the next 20 years; increased skill sometimes bringing increased pay. But the increased skill of a workman differs from that of the lawyer, doctor, or other brain worker. It is dependent for its exercise upon bodily strength. As soon as this becomes unable to meet the strain and speed of modern production by machinery, the value of the workman in the market begins to decline. The general age for the beginning of such physical failure is about 45.