Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-25
KEEP Up WAGES,
REDF|ELD URGES
Rate of Pay Not Controlling
Factor in Production Cost,
He Says.
SPEAKS AT BIG DINNER
IN. GARRISON'S HONOR
Secretary Of War Pays Tribute to the
Personnel and Work of
the Army.

NEW YORK, May 24.-The rate of
wages Is not the controlling factor in
the cost of production and there are
many manufacturers who should en-
ploy more efficient methods before at
tempting to reduce wages on account
or the proposed reductions in the tariff
William c. Redfield. Secretary of Com
merce, declared tonight. He was speak
ing at a dinner given in honor of secre-
tary OF War Garrison by the Hudson
County Bar Association
The cost of labor is in many in
dustries but minor part of the total
cost and rarely the controlling element
therein" said Mr.. Redfield. THE diff
ference in wages between America
and Europe often. therefore, affects
but a small part Of the total cost of
manufacture and is itself SO modified
by many other conditions affecting
cost as to have small value as a basis
for argument. The chief controlling
factor In production is the rate and
quality of output. Difference in cost
may have no relation to labor.
Best Wage Payers.
The industries in our country which
meet foreign competition best are those
which pay the highest rate of wages, such
as the machinery. steel and shoe indus
tries The industries in America which
profess the least ability to meet foreign
competition are those which pay the low
est wages among us, such as the textile
manufactures.
1T Is frequently true that the industries
with the highest protection from the tariff
pay the lowest wages wool and cotton),
while those with the smallest tariff pro-
ASets fOt><
the highest wages. The products of
American factories are often as cheap or
cheaper in the labor cost per unit than
are foreign ones.
while 1t is true that some of our in
dustrfeS and many individual manufac-
turers In our industries are highly eff
Gent and being 30 and finding 1t profit
able do not advertise. it is unfortunately
the fact that there are many more Of
whom the same cannot be said.
Correct Methods First.
Il believe and affirm that public opin-
ion requires that manufacturers in whose
plants the latter is true shall correct
their methods before they undertake to
reduce the wages of operatives.
Many of us are not using to their
full the productive powers we control.
The men and women in our factories
are endowed with reason. interest. judg-
ment, imagination. attention and
memory Has a deliberate effort been
made to try what the responsive force
Of these powers is to patient and in
spring leadership? Has 1t not been
rather true that men have been con-
sidered a kind of producing merchandise.
to be hired at the lowest rate at which
poverty would force them to work
rather than at such a rate as would in
spire their highest productiveness?
rs not the whole outlook upon
wages as an expense a distortion of
the greater truth that they should be
a remunerative investment? Has not
the man been taken at his mathe-
NAUTICAL value rather than at his human
one?
THE democratic party says: Look in
to your own methods: search and see
ii they are right. and before you touch
the income of the poor make doubly
sure that nothing in management or
methods or equipment or arrangement
is left undone toward your best eff
ciency.'