The Cordova daily times., 1919-04-17
UNioNiSM-AN OPPORTUNITY.

Miners throughout the United States can we'll point with pride to the action of the Butte miners in holding to their contract and accepting reduc- ed wages with the fall in the price of copper But will they consider it as an exhibition of honesty and good judgment, or will they regard it as the act of "weak-kneed brothers who would not insist on their rights?"
 Strikes for higher wages and short CT hours throughout the country indi- cate that large percentage of man. ual workers have no sympathy with such loyalty On the other hand, the absence of strikes or threats of strikes in mining districts generally indicate that miners as well as oper- ators are alive to the conditions that confront the metal industries and that they are anxious to do their share in keeping the mines in active operation. With the shortage of metals, and with rising prices,it was easy to de- mand and easy to grant successive in- creases in wages Now that the de- mand has gone, and with prices fall ing or not obtainable at all, it should be easy for the reverse to proceed in an orderly manner, but such is not the case.
 Although selling little or nothing, and buying supplies on credit, even though he must borrow for his pay roll on the strength of his good name, the employer still hesitates to reduce wages or discharge worthy employees. The employe, thinking of the good times that he has recently enjoyed plenty of work when he wanted it, short hours and high pay-is loath to forego what labor has gained for it. self" With hesitation on the part of both, there is likely to be a crash in more than one industry. And right here is the opportunity for union lead bers, the employers, and their indus tries from wreck and ruin.
 There is no sane employer who would not be glad to see his workers recive as high wage as they did dur ing the war, but he knows that they cannot get it unless they earn it. With little or no demand for his goods, he must make concessions in price if he would sell at all The manufacturer can reduce the price of his product until he receives no profit, but beyond this the burden comes on labor; it must either receive less or produce more units of the product in the course of days work While the war was in progress, and labor was pampered in every direction, the mere obtaining of dollar was simple, but in peace times and under normal con- ditions it requires some effort to earn dollar.
 This should be clear to every man of average intelligence; it is clear, perfectly so, to practically every union leader in the country. These leaders are not fools; they are gen orally men of more than ordinary in diligence, and it is within their power to put the case clearly and fairly be- fore their members. Labor has been taught to be suspicious of its employ CT, but, having chosen its own lead CTS, more deference is paid to the opinions of the latter, many of them are in the enviable position of being able to guide large following.
 During the last year we have learn ed that economic laws cannot be broken by government or legislative action; they are inexorable. No more can they be broken by employers or by unions. Attempts to control eco homie laws lead only to suffering for some one, and often 1t is brought upon those for whose benefit 1t was intended. An econmic law of consid- erable interest at the present moment is that remuneration must be In proportion to production or vice versa. Twist it as one will, bring for ward exceptions, cite examples oi
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