The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-09-21
Profiteers Rally
Fake atriOtiSm to
Block Living Wage

sands OF metal workers 20 lif
their wages somewhat proper
tlonatoiy with the increased
cost OF living, and TO secure
proportion. even II small. OF
the tremendously Inflated war
profits their employers have
won.
"our people have To live" says
X. W, Burton. president OF the Iron
Trades Council here and OF the Pa.
cific Coast Iron Trades Council
ITO live they must buy food and
clothing. The iron workers scale
that expired September 10. had
been IN effect three years. With
prices OF everything doubled and
tripled IN that time, we were liy'
ing on the same wage. and our EN-
ployers were reaping the tremen'
doIr harvest OF the war profits.
We held out until our contract ex.
pired and then We asked for more
money.
We had 20 have II 20 live.
sour employers were max
Ing more than they ever had
before. But no, one cent OF
this would they give 10 W. We
had stayed with our bargain
with them even when II pinch
ed. We didn't want 20 pinch
them. Our proposition wouldn't
have pinehed them. But they
took advantage OF war condi-
lions. They dehed W to
strike. pointed out the govern
mcnt war orders. told Ne the
nation would rise against W N
we went out now. delaying war
work. But while we were 20
work and starve they were 10
amsss greater wealth.
Our patriotism was clear. We
had proved II By sticking 10 tho
contract OF three years ago. even
tho the prices Of our output had
scared Ia the meantime. We had
not asked a share Ia that profit
"nut now new contract must
be signed. and We want a price
upon which W. can live Have you
any Idea what the increase IN Nv.
ms has becng ilradstreet's. which
Ia final authority for the business
man. said Ia its issue OF May IL.
this year;
"'Bradstrrets index number for
May I. depicts new high level.
The current Index number reflects
an Increase Of ii.s per cent sInee
al.
OF 2e.7 per cent since May Z. 1918.
and OF rs per cent over the like
date In iois'
This index number of which
Bradstrect talks Is a number they
figure each month from list OF
the necessities OF life for man. N
the index number IL up 20 per cent
that means Il costa you and me rs
per cen, moro TO live or that what
cost us a dollar three years ago In
1914. when we signed the % ale
that just expired. now costs us
fiT5.
And tho employers want us 10
get along on about the old wage
scale. n It's matter OF patriot.
ism. where Ia their patriotism.
who make their millions In tho In.
fiated profits OF the war. and seek
to compel US TO get along on
wages that will now bur only four
seventies Of what they would buy
when first flrcdr
They threaten 10 with the
government. We have no fear
OF the government We are for
the government Our members
have bought Liberty Bonds ard
given 20 the Red Cross. Our
members are In the new IA.
tionsl army. ready TO give
their lives for their country.
What we have IL our govern
nrents. But we do not believe
that that Just government we
love and revere would have W
starve and our families In want
when our employers grow soft
on the fat of war contracts.
Put the blame for the delay In
war contracts where II belongs
on the eupldity OF our employers.