The Washington herald., 1914-04-13

n u FoftSS IN the New 1nfk Ame1Can-
New York. April 12.-Are wage reduc
tions coming?
When 10 men clamoE for 100 jobs the
rate of pay offered is apt to decline
Strong unions can check the tendency &c
some extent. but. as a broad principle
the labor market, in common with all
other markets, is influenced by the law
of supply and demand.
Thanks largely to political hostility and
bungling, the supply Of labor is today
greatly in excess of the amount that can
be used
To my mind. this is the worst indict-
ment that can be brought against the
present administration. A government
that makes it impossible for abnormal
numbers Of willing workers to earn a
living for themselves and their families
is not a success. When it continues TO
do so, without even a plausible excuse.
its conduct becomes criminal
Unless Washington changes its tactics,
and changes them very promptly. wages
in many. many cases viii be lowered.
Already the nations pay envelope has
suffered seriously.
Pay Envelope suffers.
| wish to repeat the suEestion-I would
put il in the form of a plea-that Con-
Sress announce that, owing to the cha
ntfc views and utter lack of agreement
on what should be done, and how, all
anti-business legislation be postponed.
Such a step would have an electric
effect upon sentiment. Let IL be followed
by favOra BILE railroad rate decision. ami
! am willing to predict a revival in con-
ndence and in business beyond anything
now generally believed possible.
Did you notice that the governments
report on winter wheat foreshadnWs an
unprecedented crop? Soil conditions :his
spring are ideal. and Nature may be
depended upon TO deal bountifuliy with
this richly favored land.
In the last analysis all our wealth
comes from Mother Earth. But even
Mother Earth cannot insure the pros
perity Of her children unless they do their
part
We cannot hope to enjoy prosperity
if our railroads are obliged to throw
men idle by the thousands, if road after
road be thrown into bankruptcy. if the
building OF new transportation facilities
TO develop the country he stopped. and if
distrust becomes so rampant that invest
oTS sacrifice their securities and refuse
to put the money into use.
We cannot hope to enjoy prosperity IL
oUr factories are forced to Curtail their
operations. to lay on men. to cut wages
and lose profits.
Cannot Have Prosperity.
We cannot hope to enjoy prosperity il
labor be starving
We cannot hope to see the country
regain its industrial feet so long as the
lawmakers act and are regarded as the
enemies of organized business.
To abolish the unsettlement and un-
ertaiEty Ihat are today playing havoc
with labor and with industry we must
have cooperation. not enmity, between
the government and the governed: We
must have mutual respect and sympathy;
we must have harmonious action toward
a common end; we must have conditions
~ once satisfactory to the employed and
to employers
Can YOU see any nationwide clamor on
tn" part Of employees TO have the bust
ness Of their employers dismembered?
Can YOU hear any general public out |
~ against most of the business organi- |
Zatious that the government wants torn |
asunder2 |
Public FnyOrS Railroads.
Is public opinion for or against grant |
iAg relief to the railroads? II the voice |
and vote of business associations all over
the Union: il the attitude of the coun-
Iry's newspapers: if the stand taken by
the railroad employees can, combined. be
accepted guide. then the Overwhelm-
ing view is that the railroads should
be allowed some sucCor in the form of
a small increase in freight rates.
Yet the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion has loyed with this question for
the greater part of year. They have
ddled while prosperity was peTishing
Had not this and other newspapers de- u
nanded more speedy action. the COM
mission would have dawdled along for
goodness knows how long. obIivious or
Indifferent to what their prOCrastination
was costing all classes of citizens.
How Money Is spent.
Have you ever stopped to ask how a
railroad spends each dollar IL earns?
Fairfax harrison. president of the South
cTn Railway. recently compiled exact
figures covering his road Here they are:
Cents ,
Wage AN
Materials and s7ilir- ....... 30