The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-10-20
! Wage Increases imperative.
(From Machinists' Journal.)

(FfOm MacnlnlStS' JOurnal.)
Whether the efforts of Mr.. Hoover
as food administrator and Mr.. Garfield,
as coal administrator will result In
cheaper foodstuff and cheaper GOAL
remains t6 be seen. The outlook at
this writing is not very bright, how
ever, IL present prices are any criter-
ion. There has not only been no gen.
eral reduction in the cost of food and
coal, but, on the contrary, the price
Of these, ne commodities continues. to
rise. The same is true of Clothes
shoes and other necessities, with the
possible exception of flour, potatoes
and onions, which, according to the
Monthly Review of the U. s. Bureau
of Labor Statistics for the month Of
September, have decreased 10, SO and
81 per cent, respectively.
According to the Review. during the
year from July IS, 1915, to July Is,
1917, prices Of food as a whole ad-
| vanced 80 per cent: flour 81 per cent;
potatoes, 83 per cent: cornmeal, 81
per cent: beans, 81 per cent; meat
products all advanced greatly during
the year. Food, az whole, was AZ
per cent higher July, 1917, than in
July, 1914; flour being 125 per cent
higher: or, in other words. nv
times the price in July, 1914. Corn
meal was 80 per cent higher; lard,
70 per cent, and potatoes and bread
each SO per cent higher.
In the same number of the Review,
printed in large type, just after the
table of contents, is the following:
"Are you saving your money to in
vest in the next issue Of the Liberty
loan?" The thought occurs to us, in
view Of the prevailing high prices OF
everything, comparing the wages re-
ceived by the workers at present with
those of three years ago, how can it
be done? After meeting his obliga-
tons for necessaries, the average
workman has little, if anything, left
of his earnings, and although not
lacking in patriotism, finds himself in
a position where he not only is un-
able to invest in Liberty loans, but
| is actually in debt to the butcher,
the baker, the coal man, etc., be-
cause Notwithstanding his argument
| that he must have more money in
order to live, his employer usually
turns a deaf ear to such contentious
when asked for an increase of wages,
or cuts the amount asked for so per
cent or more, if anything at all is
granted. For instance, if an increase
of cents per hour is requested, the
employer generally offers cents. and
feels he is real magnanimous if he
| finally consents to give 4 cents. OF
! course, there are exceptions to this
rule, but they are very few.
With the ever increasing cost Of
living and the constant diminution of
the purchasing power of dollar en-
ployers must expect an ever-increas-
ing demand for higher wages. This
condition of affairs is bound to keep
the country in a state of industrial
unrest. and is a problem which should
receive attention at the hands of tn
government.
In view of circumstances over
which labor has no control, the
workers must not be charged with
taking advantage of the present crisis
when they seek higher wages, even
though these requests come at fire.
quent intervals. All we ask is a fair
chance to present our case. If en-
ployers will discuss matters of mu-
tua1 interest with US, the problems
with which we are confronted will be
the more easily solved.