The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-12
CALDER SAYS LABOR
MADE PRICES JUMP
Curtailment of Production
Blamed for Present Indus
trial Crisis.

labor could not escape responsibility for
much of the increase in living costs
since last March. and that curtailment
of production is responsible for much OF
the present industrial situation. Sena-
tor Calder of New York to-day in the
Senate called on the present Industrial
Conference not to forget that the in
terests of capital and labor are subor-.
dinate to the interests of the general
public.
The conference cannot be success,
the New York Senator said IL only tenn
porary measures Of relief are provided
and If steps are not taken to go to
the very heart of the trouble. Every
act of the conference, he declared, should
be based on the public interest and on
industrial stability.
Sketching the present situation. Sena-
tor Calder said.
AT the cessation of hostilities prices
had risen, according to the Bureau OF
Labor statistics, to 107 per cent above
pre-war levels. On the early prospects
OF an abundance of labor and possible
overproduction, prices receded by
March, 1919, to % per cent. over the
pre-war level. Labor, however. was de-
termiped to hold the status quo In
wages and working conditions, or make
them even tnore favorable. Strikes
were of increasing frequency until We
are having an unprecedented number
Of them.
Real Reason for Strikes.
Some of these strikes were not so
much for the prosperity OF the workers
but in their real effect strikes against
replenishing promptly the national
shortage of goods strikes therefore.
| against public welfare and favorable
| to The maintenance of the nigh cost OF
living against which the labor element
ano all other elements have been and
are complaining.
These were and are strikes not only
| for higher wages but for shorter hours
| producing idleness, lack of effort and
| reduced output. During the six months
| succeeding the armistfce the production
| of peace commodities, even with the
release of machinery and labor from
| war production and with the returning
| soldiers to recruit the force OF pro-
| ducers, has been estimated by some
authorities as but half the production
of peace commodities during the six
| months preceding the armisitce, wher
| our maximum effort was concentrated or
| war activities.
| There are other influences of course
| the Rederal Trade Commission asserts
| one OF these is the abuse Of storag'
| facilities and observation-disclosures into
the increasing costs OF living. but labor
disturbances. resulting In decreased pro
duction. have largely been responsible fo'
sending the price level UP again. upti
| to-day it is 12S per cent. above the price'
current at the beginning of the war. ar
increase of 80 per cent. in six months.
No Escape for Labor.
,Iabor2 cannot escape the respon
sibility for much of this Increase. II
living costs from 9s per cent in Marcel
| to 1913 per cent. in September. TIL
effects Of currency imitation and of ex
Tort business had largely spent them
selves by March and cannot properly b.
counted as factors in the increase IL
| living costs from March to September
The lack of production Is the major
cause, and this has resulted In the maiI
because labor has ceased to produce anc
has brought its economic power to beal
on the solution of what 1t holds to be 6
more equitable division Of the wealth
already extant.
'While we are quarrelling we ar
consuming, and soon the monkey of con
tention will have consumed the cheese
and IL at last we agree on an equitable
division we will find there Is no chess
to divide Every one In his senses realizes
that we should be creating new wealth
rather than concerning ourselves will
divisions of wealth already created
Whether such division be made through
barter, speculation or wage adjustments,
still 1t is dividing and not creating.
public welfare clamors for increased
production at once; industrial welfar'
demands a permanent policy of bargain
ing, SO that the minimum of uncertaint,
as to future costs be had"
Senator Calder declared 1t would b,
better to defer attempts to meet thu
situation than'to devise temporary RENE
dies
Temporary Remedies Opposed.
Temporary conditions In industry.
he said, "are not the real issues. Tenn
porary remedies may do more harm thai
good, Just as the policy OF following tn
line OF least resistance during the wal
aggravated the Industrial controversial
we have had since the armistice wa
signed Rather than devise passing pal
liatives and defer the Anal reckoning
would be prudent, in the opinion OF some
to adjourn the conference and permi
economic pressure to write its ruthles
solution"
Nor would selfishness be permitted Z
enter into the settlement, declared tn
New York Senator.
1.-THE public" he said, twill have littl
patience in seeing it's interests subordi
mated and Its production held In abey
ancs. while either employer or employe
perfects machinery or systems for sell
ish protection or exploitation. II tn
spirit is wrong, no amount of machiner
can be created to adequately serve publ
welfare. necessity and convenience
the spiuit Is right, the machinery alread
In existence can continually be per
fected."