The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-06-25
Buying at Home
Means Prosperity
Continued From Page One)

~ oLloall dsS manufactures at time |
when most encouragement is needed. |
Distribution of pay-rolls to salts.
1led labor is an asset to any com
and worthy of conservation.
Nothing equals the pay envelope for
building both city and country. or
compares with it as a force for com.
mercial expansion.
Suggestion has been made that vari.
Gus articles be made by state prison
labor and factories be established for
of convicts. Nothing
could be worse as a disbursement
for investment of capital in manufac-
turing industries. Where the state
with prison labor enters into competi- |
ito nit is deadly to legitimate workers.
Some plan should be devised whereby
the state might secure cheap cut
over timber lands and clear these with
prison labor then sell the land to bona
fide settlers on long time payments
at low rate of interest, as is done
with arid or desert land. 1t would
require no more capital than to estab.
fish factories for state-owned CONNIE
titive plants, with no interference
with legitimate labor. Farms thus de-
veloped would be an enduring asset.
whereas a small, temporary profit
would accrue from prison labor oper-
ated factories. Thousands of acres of
land are idle and unimproved, and will
remain so for years to come, unless
some aid be given by the state for
their development. These might be-
come productive and afford support
for large population The cost with
interest would all be eventually re
turn and state credit only used. Such
improvement would in no way COM
pete with legitimate labor as would
occur should the state enter the manu-
featuring field
The Northwest Pacific coast be-
cause of advantages from natural
growth of important materials. and
cheap power possibilities, is favorably
situated for manufacturing. While the
present tendency is for steel products,
yet lumber will be a prime factor for
for building materials and shipments
abroad, it should be more largely
used in articles of domestic manufac-
ture thus giving employment to local |
labor and supplying home consump-
ton with articles many of which are
shipped in from Eastern plants.
Two large factors enter into con-
sumption of manufactured products. |.
The largest ultimate consumer is the |
aggregate of small quantities going
out into all channels of trade. The |
second, the large buyers for mills. |
canneries, factories, fishing indus
tries, transportation lines, public utili- |
ties and municipalities. AS a general |
proposition for jobbing mercantile /
houses are the best distributors of |
home produced products Their inter |
ests are such that Withdrawals of
money for Eastern and foreign pay
ments are at once noticeable, hence .
keeping capital at home is appreciat. I
ed. Through the retail merchant the /
jobber knows the benefit of the week |
ly or monthly payroll.
In the final analysis, however, la T
Dor is the chief factor effected. When /
the employer is employed labor is ac-
tive Where factories operate on part
time only, the workmen lose most
Ambitious workmen desire to own
homes, keep families comfortably
housed, clothed and fed have chill
dren afforded some opportunities for
better conditions than those given
parents, with an occasional luxury.
Steady employment at a fair wage Of
fers such opportunities when iudg-
ment and frugality are in evidence. 1t
is a fair assertion to make that were
the present factories on the Northwest
Pacific coast operated to full capa.
city, double the number of workmen
could be employed steadily 1t is
further asserted that the foregoing
would prevail if home in
iustries should receive the universal
patronage to which they are entitled.
It therefore remains for the consum-
ing public to take proper interest, not
only merchants and large buyers, but
Iaborers and householders of ALI
classes, The factory will be the
means, but labor will get by far the
largest benefit as from so to so per
cent of the cost of products is in la
Dor.
The unity of Labor is the hope of
the world.