The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-10-26
Effect Upon the Prosperity Of
the People GENERALLY i Either
ono Or the Other Should; be Sue
cessful.

the People Generally if Either
one or the Other Should; be Sue
cessful. =
The Employers ASSOCIATION origin
ated in the east, and so far as we are
aware the poison Of It's infection has
not polluted the atmosphere OF Du-
luth. But 1t il we'll to be on. our
guard, and for that reason, we discuss
the question with our readers. many
of whom are, large employers Of labor,
and too honorable and patriotic to be
seduced by employer association So
phistries. '>'
II the Employers association had
it's way let Us SUPPOSE that every
mans wages would be reduced one
nalf. It it really had Its way the
wages would probably be reduced
more than one half, but to be perfect
~ fair, let us suppose: that after
breaking UP the unions the assoc1-
alton is able to reduce every working
nan's wages just one half. What
would be the result upon the pros
perity. Of the city,? -, s
The Case Stated.
To get right down to the bottom Of
the argument it should flrst be: ,ascer-
tanned what per. cent Of the, working
mans. wages gets Immediately Into
circulation. =. That .is, what per cent
Of his wages does he spend here In
thetcity? What per cent, does he carry
out IT. Of the country, and spend IN
or tnyest IN Duluth Eel {. es-
IS 81 M
non, spra aeetlcail, ever 6nSfE 81
out IN this city As:wages soxssat once
to the merchant or to the builder for
a little home, or to the coal dealer, or
to some other working man for doing
some other kind :of work. That is to
say, the brick mason, il he has: money,
pays out a portion st it to the painter
for painting his house, after buying
food and clothing.
Effect on 1usinsee.
Now, If the working men Of Duluth
had only one-half Of tao money they
now have, would it be 4 good thing or
a bad thing for the business Of the
pAoSS' VOutO ~ ucAp kuS eIC11dIls
or the other workinginen? Would it
help the publishers of:the. newspapers? !?
Would there be SO many advertise.
nnents of merchandise? { Would it help
the truck gardeners who visit the city
and sell vegetables?, It ought to be
easy to answer such questions.
You will notice in the statistics sent
out, by the various commerciai> clubs
and chambers. Of Commerce, where
they want to- make an especially good
showing for their respective, city,
that they state how many thousands
Of dollars are paid out each week for
labor. You have never heard Of a
chamber Of commerce boasting about
how little money lis paid to labor,
If the contention Of the Employers
association, IL correct. fit. would be
a good thing to- have the amount Of
money paid to workipgmen reduced to
the lowest possible figures, why is, 1t
you never hear, a. commercial club
boasting something :1ike, this: Il: I'VE
have: here more than 10000. working
men; and the total weekly wage paid
them 'is only $4,000 dollars; come
here where business is good" You
have never read such argument as
that advanced in favor OF :Fany' town,
have you? =, ts.ss - = ~
Instead of that you frequently see
figures showing that t.hs average
weekly wage Of the. working people is
greater than. in most other cities, and
people are invitedeto makeSt theirs homes
in this city where wages ARE high and
where everybody is prosperous: That
is a common form Of booming a city,
isn't it? .,'s -: - ...4S- -. j r.
Now. suppose thatathe unions should
be victorious; suppose That they
should induce :or compel the employ
ers1 to- increase the wages or, every
working man aud working woman in
the city half. That is& providing
that. the increase could be; s granted
without injury. TO the running Sof the
businesses, as ,Sis the case in most
instances. Would that help or hurt
business? And wac would 1t help, or
hurt? <,=s& Fs ~ 1'ssF NJ ny
Would it hurt the ylaboring people -
and they. are more numerous than any
other one .sclass.2 would Il cause them
to- become more dsipend lent upon char
ity? Would they have less money to
pay for. food and clothing Would II
prevent any Of them from laying OFF q
day and repairing the prer'i ses sof his
home, or from taxing his . wife 4 and
babies Tor q day In the country OF
course not; its would help the working
men.--every onesof the ii. SIS S.
i! Would u hurt the merchants g have