The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1919-03-27

Miners throughout the United
States can well 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 shorter
hours throughout the country indicate
that a large percentage of manual
workers have no sympathy with such
loyalty. On the other hand, the alb
sence of strikes or threats of strikes In
mining districts generally, indicates
that miners as well as operators 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, 1t was easy to de-
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 payroll
on the strength of his good name, the
employer still hesitates to reduce the
wages or discharge worthy employees
The employee, thinking of the good
times that he has recently enjoyed
plenty of work when he wanted 1t,
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 a crash in more
than one industry. And right here Is
the opportunity for union leaders and
unionism to save their members, the
employers, and their industries from
wreck and ruin.
There is no sane employer who
would not be glad to see his workers
receive as high a wage as they did
during the war, but he knows that
they can not get it unless they earn it.
With little or no demand for his goods,
he must make concessions in price Ii
he would sell at all. The manufacture
ar ha y,rion Of 10
until he receives no profit, but beyond
this the burden comes on labor; 1t
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 conditions 1t
requires some effort to earn a dollar.
This should be clear to every man
of average intelligence; 1t Is clear,
perfectly so, to practically every union
leader in the country. These leaders
are not fools; they are generally men
Of more than ordinary intelligence, and
It is within their power to put the
ease clearly and fairly before their
MEMBERS Labor has been taught to
De suspicious Of it's employer, but,
having chosen Its own leaders, more
reference is paid to the opinions Of
he latter, and many of them are in
he enviable position Of being able to
,uide large following.
During the last year we have learn
d that economic laws can not be
'roken by government or legislative
.ction; they are memorable. No more
an they be broken by employers or
" unions. Attempts to control eco