The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-04-21


sures only harm will be done by such !
as do not actually increase the spend
ing power Of the class employed. Set
ing men to wood cutting or matmaking
at a dole wage, and then selling their
products at low prices, only results in
the regular workers being undersold
and thrown out of work. It is or
ganized ''blacklegism." In the end
there are as many out Of work, but the
spending power of the class has been
reduced, the attempted cure only ag-
grevating the evil.
The local Government Board orders,
too, insist that the workers under the
Central Committees being paid below
the standard wage-wh1ch is like re-
ducing the available resources of water
supply as a remedy for draught
Keeps Numbers From Rust.
The Encouragement of the councils
ordinary work so as, say, to do next
summers work this winter serves the
purpose of keeping. numbers Of men
from rust and decentralization, and as
privations are hardest to bear in the
winter good is SO far achieved. But
it is clear that the sum total of unen1-
ployment has not been reduced any
more than given amount of butter is
reduced by spreading it over slice Of
bread. The wage, drawn and spent this
winter cannot also be drawn and spent
next summer. The real problem has
not been touched. -
| Nor can it be touched except through
increase: of the number of persons reg
ularly employed and through increases
of the spending power OF those already
in work by simprcafyements in wages and
reductions in Athe., cost Of living:
The laying out of new parks making
Of sidewalks and such like work not
otherwise undertaken is on the right
lines If the men are paid a standard
wage. But what is needed more than
all is permanence of employment. OF
courses the capitalist wants only tenn
porary measures, so that he may al
ways have abundance of cheap labor to
exploit but generally speaking, what Is
the good of the capitalist-or what he
thinks Is good for l1im--is bad for the
nation.
Where Good Can Be Done.
To organize an army Of 5000 we'll
paid men in large schemes say Of re-
afforestati0n and foreshore reclama-
ton, would do more real good in a
few days Of work here and there now
and again for $4,000. It would be bet
ter for the morals and physique of the
men, better for the trades affected
by their spending power, better for a
nation permanently enriched by the re-
suits Of such labor.
The slum districts of our town are
| lott
must be demolished and better &C
commodation provided. Every day
adds to the cost at which it will have
to be done. There is absolutely moth
ing except Indifference and stupidity to
prevent the organization Of building
and Stub demolishing armies to do tt.
work SO long neglected.
Again the ranks of casual workers.
in other words Of the internationally
employed-are steadily recruited from
the agricultural districts. A compul-
sion on country councils to provide
decent rural housing accommodations
would not only employ number of ar.
tisans and laborers, but remove one OF
the principal grievances which drive
rural families into the towns.
To Stimulate Agriculture.
At the same time there are 1nnunaer.
able methods by which agriculture
might be stimulated. The half Of which
has ben done in Denmark and Hun.
gary would not only check migration
to the towns, but create a demand fol
labor from the towns. One result
would be a steadying of employment
and rise in wages in the very elias:
worst paid and least regularly en-
ployed.
All wise special reform affect thu
question. A reduction in the work.
ing hours of tramway, omnibus and
railway employees obviously makes fol
good. Every raising, Of the school age
not only improves the stamina, and in.
telligence of the race, and raises oul
standard Of production, but Increases
number Of regularly employed adults
Again, many old people are struggling
! on, at reduced wages, who should long
since have retired on honorable pen
sions. This is bad for them. bad fo1
our industries, bad for the young men
unemployed. The decent pensioning OF
: the veterans of industry would ma
terially affect the problem.
All taxes should be removed from in
dustry. A wise government too, would
remove all taxes from tea, coffee, cocoa
etc., and free many millions Of pounds
to be spent by the people in other di.
rections. - s=% :; = s:a.s..
It will be said that even these mod
crate reforms must cost much money
OF course they must. II they did not
I they would do little to. solve the prob
4 lem 81 unemployment. We have te
Fl spend money which ii not now spent