CHAPTER VIII LABOUR AS A COMMODITY 161 PART II THE MINIMUM WAGE CHAPTER I EXISTING CHECKS 175 CHAPTER II SUPPOSED REMEDIES 195 CHAPTER III THE LESSONS OF THE COTTON TRADE 212 CHAPTER IV THE MINIMUM WAGE IN PRACTICE 230 CHAPTER V FOREIGN COMPETITION 260 CHAPTER VI GAIN TO THE NATION 272 INDEX 277 INTRODUCTION The sweating evil has long engaged the attention of social and industrial workers in many fields. Some have approached it from the philanthropic point of view, and have sought a remedy in voluntary means such as consumers’ leagues; others have approached it from the point of view of industrial organisation, and have sought to deal with it by the extension of trade unionism and legislative action. So far all efforts alike have been futile. The evil is too wide-spread and too remote in its operations to be touched by charity. It involves a class too forlorn, too isolated, and too impoverished to be reached by trade unionism. The cry of the victims has hitherto been too feeble and hopeless to command the attention of Parliament.