But while, as we see, there are many special conditions which, in London especially, favour the small workshop, the most important will be found to consist in the large supply of cheap unskilled labour.

This is the real material out of which the small workshop system is built.

In dealing with the other conditions, we shall find that they all presuppose this abundant supply of labour.

If labour were more scarce, and wages therefore higher, the small workshop would be impossible, for the absolute economy of labour, effected by the factory organization with its larger use of machinery, would far outweigh the number of small economies which, as we have seen, at present in certain trades, favour and make possible the small workshop.

Every limitation in the supply of this low-skilled labour, every expansion of the alternatives offered by emigration, access to free land, &c., will be effectual in crushing a number of the sweating workshops, and favouring the large factory at their expense.
Sec.5.Irresponsibility of Employers .-- The third view of the sweating System lays stress upon its moral aspect, and finds its chief cause in the irresponsibility of the employer.