Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-09

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average of this cost increase. But it
is a fundamental fact that bigger
wages will not solve this difficulty. In
deed, they will only aggrayate it for
the majority of citizens, who for one
reason or another are unable or un-
willing to forcibly increase the profits
on their output.
For that is what the man does who
wins a wage increase under threat Of
a strike. That is what the coal min
ers of the central competitive field
did only recently, when they compelled
the operators to raise the wage scale
and the operators, in turn, compelled
the public to pay an increased price
for coal.
The miners are doing no more work
than they did before they struck. They
simply have increased the profits on
their output, which is the labor of their
hands, and the increase is paid by the
man who uses coal to heat his home.
The shipbuilders are increasing the
profit on their output Of labor, and
the public, which is paying for the
ships with which the United States is
to combat the German submarine,
must foot the bill for the increased
labor cost, through the payment of
taxes.
Business men and business firms,
with a few exceptions, which are
bound to grow fewer as the govern
ment's restrictive laws against profit
eering come to be more rigidly en-
forced, are making every possible econ
omy count in an effort to avoid loss as
the difference between their income
and their expenditures becpme smaller.
They are reducing expenses where, 1t
is possible, and although they are in
creasing prices the instances are not
frequent which show an increase in the
proportion of profit.
1. The patriotic and unselfish course
which suggests itself in the present
emergency is that of personal, indiyid-
ual economy and cooperation between
employer and employed. and between
wage Garner. and consumer Extrava-
gances should be recognized as unpa-
triotic. Useless expenditure is waste
at any time, and waste just now GER
tainly is unpatriotic.
Just now there is an extraordinary
demand for labor in many lines. the
average family's income today is con-
siderabiy greater than it was few
years ago because more members OF
the family are employed. The working
man who works can make income pal
ance expenditure as easily as does the
business firm, by improving every op-
portunity for economy and by emitting
wasteful extravaganza.
This is not too much, surely, for any
of us to do at this time. when the
safety of the country and the stability
OF those institutions upon which our
entire economic fabric rests are in the
balance. Were it not for the war there
would be universal demand for an
economic Encouragement, but the war
itself has brought the arrangement.
With its end will come return to or
der and balancing Of accounts be-
tween income and expenditure. Until
that time every patriotic man and
woman can demonstrate patriotism by
making every other consideration sec
ondary to that of winning the war. .
Labor unrest will prolong the world
struggle. Therefore, labor unrest
should be minimized until the nations
are at peace.
For anyone in America, employer or
employee, to expect or demand an IN
creased profit because Of the war. is
disloyal. selfish and inimical to the
nations, success. Americas victory in
the war can be real zed only through
nationwide cooperation and loyalty.
Only in the event of such victory
can any economic advantage or secur-
ity exist after peace is declared. II
America should not win-and she can
not win without loyal cooperation by
her hundred million people-the foun-
dations Of American business, politics
and economics would be shattered by
the imposition and oppression OF Ger
man domination.