The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-06-27

Prices at Which They Must Buy
Common ities Controlled BY r. ?.
s-s responsible Parasites.
Under the Existing System the
Parasites Exact any Price
They Choose.

If the conditions of today demand a,
change Of policy and the public feels
that decrease of; wage is necessary
to encourage activity lin business cir
cles, why are we tolerating a system
that allows the class who control the
price of food stuffs and rents to re-
main untrammeled and free, to exact
any price they choose for their COM
modities. ,z>L-.,f r.
Certain Policies Dangerous.
Any policy that exacts toll from one
class to the. exclusion Of, the other is
not only unfair but dangerous-dan
gerous because it deprives the
wage-earners Of an opportunity Of liv-
ing under the same wholesome cor
dftions that existed formerly: ::
II labor depreciates in value, it must
Of its very nature deprive those who
are dependent on them for support, OF
many of, the, comforts they previously
enjoyed, to the sorrow Of those who
are earning a livelihood by selling
goods to the people.
Effect Upon Merchants.
If labor depreciates in value and the
necessities Of life advance to an ap-
.preciable extent then labor's value
depreciates doubly land the merchant
must feel its effect twofold.
The statement that the value of la.
Dor is regulated by supply and de-
mand does not hold good when an or
ganized effort is made to regulate sup
ply and demand. 1t is not alone true
that an effort was made to allow bust
ness to become ,stagnant to let the
idle remain unemployed in Atlanta,
SO that the reduction in wage might
be justified, but it is also true that
every industry and it's every product
that is used in our work shop, fac
tory and building is organized, and
the articles produced, the result of
combination with it's prices listed and
regulated. Their fluctuation in price
is more largely based on the varying
prices paid labor in it's process Of
manufacture than any other source.
Price Of Breadstuffs.
It is also a we'll established fact
that the food on our tables is priced
and listed before it leaves the factory.
leaving the merchant no alternative
in the matter. He must sell as di-
rected or lose the business. This
statement that the cost of material
has declined is not an excuse for &C.
duction in the price to be paid for Ia
Dor. when it is generally. understood
the decline in the cost of material is
based on the. reduction, in the price
for labor used, in the production and
cost Of manufacture. III: :, -
The country laborer;7 commonly
Known as the farmer, and tie city Ia
horer, termed the wage Garner, are
the victims of this ruthless system.
The farmer tolls the year around
preparing his round; sowing and
gathering his crop to sell it to the best
advantage, which usually means quo
tations marked up on the stock ex-
change. After. making the crop he
waits until spring to-. join his city
brother to pay whatever they charge
him for the goods he raised, himself
paying for the privilege Of living and
| allowing stock gamblers to live at his
expense, with every luxury that the
land; affords. Like the lilies of tho
| field, they toll not, neither do they
spin. Lisa.
The Patient. OK.
This system has been going on for
years. The poor farmer and wage
, Garner have been the patient OK who
! has borne the burdens of government
nieekly and mildly, Offering but feeble
| resistance to the wrongs and abuses
| that have been heaDed upon them.
When the farmer attempted to place a
fair price on his product he was told
to keep it; they would; force him to
his knees. How we'll they have kept
their threat can be SEEM. 80 :.
In the city: they have said,t We have
! established the market price for labor;
you can take it or leave i alone. How
| we'll they. have accomplish ed it can be
! readily seen. S"'1 -'t
How well they will sucteed still re-
mains to be seem. 49, . ...:.a
| j: II labor refuses to accept the YER
dict as enunciated by those In authori-
ty, they have perfect riEh hit to do SO.
I