CONSERVATIVE SOCIALISTS. 
87 
OÍ which should have legal force. The distribution of wealth 
would thus be regulated, no more, as nowadays, by the rude 
conflict of interests, that is to say,' in reality by the law 
of the strongest, but as in the ancient corporations, by a 
principle of justice. Of course it is not proposed to re-establish 
the trade guilds, with their monopolies and restrictions, but to 
subject the whole economic world to an industrial bureaucracy, 
and to a collection of tribunals, which would be new organs of 
law. This system is clearly inspired by a love of justice, only 
It would be very difficult of application in the existing economic 
world. 
Professor Huber is dead, but Councillor Wagener still lives, 
and has even become a most influential personage ; for, it is 
said, the Imperial Chancellor gladly consults him in economic 
matters.* 
^ This is what President Gerlach wrote in reply to Councillor 
\\ agener, who must not be confounded with another well- 
nown Economist, Adolf Wagner, the eminent professor of the 
University of Berlin : “Nothing can arrest this potent solvent 
which we see at work under our eyes and which is sweeping 
away all ancient institutions. The trade guilds of olden times 
cannot be re-established, but the labour question really 
consists in discovering an industrial organization which shall 
guarantee, as of old, the rights of the labourer, who is at