A Poem of Political Economy from Grip, mid-1887 likely by J. W. Bengough

Capital, Land and Labor Were triplets at their birth, And started out together To cultivate the earth;

Quoth they, “We’ll work together, And all the wealth we make Will be divided fairly, And each a third will take.

“Capital’s share is Interest, Land’s share we’ll know as Rent, While Labor’s we’ll call Wages. And each will be content.”

The business grew and prospered, And wealth was made galore, But, lo! while Land waxed wealthy The other two grew poor.

And it was seen, most strangely, That with the rise of Rent, Both Interest and Wages Lower and lower went!

“There’s something wrong, dear brother.” The others said to Land, “There’s something crooked somewhere We’d like to understand.

“While you are fat and jolly, And from all care are free. We, though we do our portion Are pressed by poverty.”

Said Land, “My dearest brothers, The facts are as you state— While capital and wages fall Rent grows at inverse rate.

“And why? — the thing is simple, And very plain to see: — For all your raw material You’ve got to come to me.

“And I (through ‘private ownership’) Am thus empowered to say, As much as I see fit to ask You both have got to pay.

“We’re on a different footing, As you may now perceive, You’ve got to have my help, you know, Or, simply, you can’t live.

“And since (through ‘private ownership’) I ask more than my share, It follows that my partners Are left a little bare!”

“Most excellently reasoned,” Said Labor. “clear as day!” “The very thing,” said Capital, “That I was going to say.”

“Well, now,” said Labor thoughtfully, “I think I see the chip That spoils our dish of porridge— It’s ‘private ownership.’

“We’ll just dissolve this little firm And form again with two Called Capital & Labor — Both workers — that will do.

“And Land (or raw material) Since it by Heaven is sent We’ll treat as common property By wiping out all rent.

“Then while the wealth producing Will go on as before, The workers will enjoy it, And neither will be poor.”

J. W. Bengough was a prolific illustrator and cartoonist, and he clearly had a way with words. He published Grip for many years, and late did weekly cartoons for The Public. See also his Up-To-Date Primer and Whole Hog. He coined the phrase “Natural Public Revenue.” Look for “Grip” on Google Books; you won’t be disappointed!