lOO 
THE SOCIALISM OF TO-DAY. 
decisions shall have legal validity.—Compulsory creation of 
provident funds for widows, orphans, and disabled workmen. 
The trade corporations shall defend the interests of the work 
men in their relations with their employers. Prohibition of 
all labour on Sundays.—Prevention of the employment of 
children and married women in factories. The normal day of 
labour to be fixed according to the nature of the work. These 
rules ought to be made the object of international conventions. 
Until this has been done it is advisable to protect labour 
against the competition of countries where similar measures 
do not exist. Stringent rules against insanitary condition of 
factories.—State and Communal property should be worked in 
the interests of the labourers, and should be extended so far 
as can be done with economy.—A progressive income-tax, to 
replace the indirect taxes which fall mainly upon the labouring 
classes.—Heavy taxes on luxuries.—A progressive succession 
duty, according to the extent of the inheritance and the 
distance of relationship. 
The programme calls upon the clergy to take an active and 
earnest part in all efforts made for improving the lot of the 
labourer in its material, intellectual, moral, and religious 
aspects. It adjures the well-to-do classes to hold out a helping 
hand to the proletarians, to support all laws which are favour 
able to them, and to aid in augmenting their welfare by giving 
them good wages and reducing as far as possible the hours of 
labour. Every one should aid in the creation of the new trade 
corporations, which are destined to supply the place of what 
ever good there was in the ancient guilds, and should endeavour 
to induce the labourers to observe all honourable conduct, to 
shun coarse pleasures, and to put Christian sentiments into 
practice in their family life. 
It cannot be denied that the articles of this programme are 
inspired by the love of humanity. Hut would it be possible 
to apply them to the complications of modern industry without 
creating disorganization ? The principal proposal is the 
re-establishment, under another name, of the old trade-guilds. 
But the difficulty already pointed out immediately arises : are 
these to be close corporations, and are they to enjoy a mono-