The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1910-03-26
SOMETHING MUST BE DONE


Beyond the question of doubt, salaries of en-
ployes and wages of workers in this country have
not kept pace with the increasing cost OF llV
ing. Statistics of the government supplemented
by statistics gathered by newspapers and magazines
all agree on this point. As to the cause there
is a wide divergence Of opinion, but as to the eff
feet there can be but conclusion-thlngs must
be readjusted. Either wages will have to be IN
creased or the cost of living will have to be re-
duced. On this proposition depends the future
welfare and stability of the nation as free and
independent people. Those who earn their living
by work of their heads their hands-the clerks,
bookkeepers, managers, stenographers, the workers
in the skilled trades and the common laborers-
those whose income is fixed, and whose income can
not be increased by their own efforts, just
living under economic conditions that cannot long
endure.
When the wage Garner and salaried employe find
it more and more difficult to make both ends meet,
their first impulse is to go after more wages. And
an increase in wages is just about the hardest thing
in the world to get as anybody who has had expert
ence in that line will testify. Meeting with
slight increase or with refusal of their requests
or demands-they have the alternative of quit.
ting entering into illegal and criminal ways, of
continuing the struggle, and growing morose and
sullen as each week finds it harder and harder to
meet the expense account. This condition of mind
is not only deplorabe from the standpoint of those
who get into it, but it is detriment to the en-
poyer as well. Anger follows sullen brooding over
financial matters, and destruction of property and
violence against human life follow anger The pub
lie peace is disturbed and business is brought to
standstill The results are alike improbable to en-
ploye and employer.
These things are usually foreign to conditions
wherein the worker is making more than living
True there are sometimes senseless agitations for
more wages when conditions do not warrant an in
crease but usually there is behind demand for an
increase a real necessity, When workers are pros
porous, when they are enabled to lay aside a few
dollars for the inevitable rainy day. they are pretty
well contented Strike evils seldom threaten when
the workers are enabled to provide decent living
for themselves and their families-when they can
provide shelter and clothing for their children
When the laborer owns his home, is out of debt and
is adding little to his savings account, he is
good citizen and patriot When he finds it mpos-
sible to live from day to day on his earnings his
is to get more-peaceably if possible, but
get it.
Just now there is a mighty host in that condition
They need more, and they will get it-peaceably if
they can, but they will get it. The demands of
the workers extend from coast to coast If business
will not justify the necessary increase in wages as
is confidently asserted by employers, then some
thing must be done to bring down the prices of ne
cessities so that they can be had at the present
scale of wages. Just how this is to be brought
about it is impossible to say, but something must
be done. If the way to is to resume the way
to reduce prices is to reduce them. Inasmuch as
we have become accustomed to looking toward
Washington for relief from about every economic
evil with which country is afflicted, the Sixty
first Congress would do well to do something-just
what we know MOTTO relieve the situation The
matter has got past the joking stage and it is in
deed condition that confronts us.