Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-20
I,,su'as'Te IHsu,ns %sste1day eufay 144O6
Wages in War Times

W ayes III w"
The sudden uprising of ship carpen-
hrs along the Atlantic Coast for sum-
mary increases in wages, which was sup
pressed by President Wilson's stern In
uuiry: "Are you for cooperation or OPP
position 7-'-an inquiry that might APP
propriatciy be addressed to some Sena-
tors and Representatives In Congress
has served TO arouse interest In the very
important question of wages IN war times
That they naturally will incline upwards
Narrinr the stress of work necessary to war
tu,rpnses. when men must bc employed
90 keep the war going, Is not doubted
But there must be limit, and also one not
regulated entirely by the war demand.
+, might be good thing for ship car
renters and Others who arc now bualy
engaged in wAr work, TO their great adj
vantage IN respect OF rcmuneratlvc wages,
to pause and make comparison with what
Hn soldiers, who arc now assembled
10 the number of more than million,
n home camps and on the war fields OF
Europe, actively taking part in the fight
TO make the world safe for democracy,
we getting for their services. They Will
md that the soldier is much more poorly
aid than they are, and is doing q much
Eeatcr work-assuming far more seri-
nus risk.
The wages of the ordinary soldier IN
Il nrl,- 2l0 q
month. That is, be receives this sum
n money compensation for his services.
n addition, however, be is clothed and
ed. Int he event Of wounds or illness he
slll be well cared for, In good hospitals,
9th able physicians and surgeons and
apable nurses TO attend TO his wants.
Also. his insurance viii be provided for.
the event of physical disability, a pen
uon will be paid him, and in the event OF
ais death his family will be provided for
~ pension payments. And he will have
he glory of having fought for his coun-
IN in n grave emergency as lifelong
COMPENSATION which will be shared only
hv those who shared with him the dangers
Of the camping grounds and battlefieids.
Looked at practically, from this point
OF view, the compensation OF the American
soldier Is far from negligible. To many
soldiers II will amount 10 more than they
could hope for in the pursuits Of civil
lIse in normal times To many others,
however, 1t viii mean a financial loss,
even II they emerge safe from Illness or
permanent INJURY For there are thou
sands of our soldiers, volunteers and
drafted men. who have sacrificed private
positions much more remunerative than
army service IN order TO fight the battles
of their country.
But the contrast should have good
effect upon those who are kept at home
TO do the work OF war that Is essential
10 wars purposes, and must be done at
home, safe from the dangers of actual
conflict. The war, from the first, has
made wages high in this country. 1t
enhanced the desire for labor long before
our country became a participant, by
reason of the great acceleration Of all
lines OF industry 10 meet the demands
of the European belhgerents And when
We were compelled to take up arms in
defence OF our national self-rcspect and
national safety, the demand for war labor
here at home became even more impera-
tive
But this situation does not justify any
branch Of labor ID taking advantage
OF IL 10 further It's own interests by de-
Inands for unusually high wages. There
Il reason IN many things, but there Is no
reason IN complying with exorbitant de-
mands SIMPLY because the situation might
appear 10 open to labor a favorable
opportunity for being unduly exacting.
Ii Is "a good thing for the country that the
leaders Of organized labor have recog-
nixed this situation and have arrayed
themselves against usunous exactions
IN respect Of wages They are working
in harmony with the heads of the gov
ernnent departments 10 this end.
There is no reason to fear labor will not
get its just rewards in the form Of wages
during the war emergency. But 1t should
not ask too much.