And meantime, all around, people will be dying for want of some of the air that he will have bottled up in his gasometers.

And when you are all dragging out a miserable existence, gasping for breath or dying for want of air, if one of your number suggests smashing a hole in the side of one of the gasometers, you will all fall upon him in the name of law and order, and after doing your best to tear him limb from limb, you'll drag him, covered with blood, in triumph to the nearest Police Station and deliver him up to "justice" in the hope of being given a few half-pounds of air for your trouble.' 'I suppose you think the landlords ought to let people live in their 'ouses for nothing ?' said Crass, breaking the silence that followed.
'Certainly,' remarked Harlow, pretending to be suddenly converted to Owen's views, 'I reckon the landlord ought to pay the rent to the tenant!' 'Of course, Landlordism is not the only cause,' said Owen, ignoring these remarks.

'The wonderful system fosters a great many others.
Employers of labour, for instance, are as great a cause of poverty as landlords are.' This extraordinary statement was received with astonished silence.
'Do you mean to say that if I'm out of work and a master gives me a job, that 'e's doin' me a injury ?' said Crass at length.
'No, of course not,' replied Owen.
'Well, what the bloody 'ell DO yer mean, then ?' 'I mean this: supposing that the owner of a house wishes to have it repainted.

What does he usually do ?' 'As a rule, 'e goes to three or four master painters and asks 'em to give 'im a price for the job.' 'Yes; and those master painters are so eager to get the work that they cut the price down to what they think is the lowest possible point,' answered Owen, 'and the lowest usually gets the job.

The successful tenderer has usually cut the price so fine that to make it pay he has to scamp the work, pay low wages, and drive and sweat the men whom he employs.