Bisbee daily review., 1917-12-09

fail to see that the reduction of metal
prices would not be attended by the
employment of more labor and the out
putting of more metal from the large
producers who are able to make
money on a lower metal market than
that now fixed by the government.
OF course, the larger producers can
make money on a lower market, but
only by selling a much more costly
product. of which their supply is
limited and of which they cannot con-
tinue to make output indefinitely at
all.
Quality Goods Limited In All Mines.
AS a rule in merchandising, the
lower valued the article the larger
the proportionate profit, and the larger
the total profit, provided the volume
of goods and trade is possessed. Thus
it is with copper mining. The pro-
Queer on a high metal market. which
means volume of trade. can get out
his lowest valued goods. his low grade
ore, of which he has an abundance,
and sell it at a larger total profit than
he can his highest valued goods, mean
ing his high grade ore. of which the
supply in every mine is limited.
Less Help Needed to Handle Quality.
To handle the high grade goods. the
merchant needs a far less number of
clerks. because he has a far ltss
amount of material to handle. This
condition is identical with that which
confronts the mine operator when low
metal prices, normally due to lack
of volume of trade. compel him to sell
his high grade goods. allowing him to
reduce his number of helpers and
other costs attending the handling of
quantity instead of quality. Thus he
Is able to keep along. earning suffi-
cient profit to hold his own, but re-
stricted as to volume of trade by the
quantity of high grade goods he is
able to carry in stock.
Present Price Compels Quality Selling
The copper mines have been selling
their high grade goods ever since the
talk OF government price fiXation
downward definitely reached the ears
of consumers. Some have been oblig
ed to reach more into the limited
stocks of high grade than others. but
all have been going into their better
class ores to more and more extent.
Every increase in cost of labor and
supplies makes it more necessary to
tut off additional nelp required to mine
the low grade and recover its values.
With further reduction in metal
price it will not mean the employment
of more men in the big mines, taking
up the labor dropped by the small
mines which will be Obliged to close
down, but a forther curtailmen of
labor in the large properties by reason
of necessity for handling more quality
and less quantity. lnasmuch as the
quality goods In the mines is OF limit
ed extent and the room in which there
Is TO work with it is also limited. and
cannot be increased at will, the labor
used in handling il must of necessity
also be limited.
General labor conditions in Arizona
as affecting the mines are on the
whole much better than previously
during the year Unrest is confined
to radicals and is apparently due to
the fact that administrators left be-
hind by the presidents mediation COM
mission are sitting all complaints very
closely and in consequence are sus-
tanning many refusals of employment.
The commission made it clear that
men who had been guilty of disloyalty
to the government, either through
overt acts or expressions. we're not TO
be re-employed. inasmuch as they
would constitute a factor of danger to
loyal men and to the interests of the
u-htnh -
the protection of property from
damage in order that it may be operat
ed at maximum capacity. Deprived
of support of administrators, the radi
Gals find their pro-German activities
much hampered. Wages being paid
are enabling all, as they have through
out the year. to earn fair margin of
profit upon their labor. and this fact
together with the light which has
gradually come upon the real motive
behind the activities of the agitators.
has about removed danger of any
early recurrence of labor differences
with employers in the state
Operators and Operatives Understand
Mine operators and operatives in
the state have yielded in all instan-
ceS 20 government suggestions and
have put themselves in the position
OF doing everything within their pow
er TO give maximum output OF metal
and 70 maintain this. Their attitude
has been attended by constantly in
creasing strength gathered from the
rank and file and including both uni
on and unorganized men. The general
aim OF advanced thinkers among Ma
tional Federation leaders in the Buff
falo convention to wipe out. the bitter
ness and the distinction which pre-
vailed in the past as between union
and non-union men and effect con-
solidation on liberal lines for future
has had no stronger aid than has been
given in Arizona, but which many To-
cal radicals have been unable to see
In the advancement of the Loyalty
leagues. because of the instructions
they have had from higher-up labor
organizers allied with pro-German
propeg auds.
Meantime the operators have put
themselves in the position of dealing
fairly aud frankly with all workers
and have maintained this as they have
in the past with the difference that