New Britain herald., 1919-07-26
STRIKES SJBSIDING

SiItIkES SJBSIDING It is with more composure, more faith in the stability of our or ganizations, that we read today of the settlement of various strikes about the country. Most of them, at least of the ones that materially affect us are on the road to a complete agree ment. In England also there has been promise of resumption of work in the coal mines, (which is bound to have a relieving effect upon the l United States rather than the de- would have accomplished. Even the airmen are at work again pending a conference, though their troubles are ] scarcely of extreme importance. The marine strike, perhaps of the ' most vital significance to our welfare X and progress, was settled at a meeting
 Eheld last evening when the labor I Readers and the officials met in con-
 ference and formulated a set of &agreements. Trade by sea routes #fwin become normal after the accumu-
 5ation of goods from the past week or so is, taken care of. The men have mot yet accepted by vote the pro- x visions of the agreement but their I leaders have and it is probably only #n matter of ratification of their action.
 
 5erms of the government and about a nuarter of a million workers at coal will again start the production so hecessary to labor and capital alike. These are tryng times for capital as well as for the workingman. With the possibility of labor trouble con- tinualIy in the off1ng and a shortage of raw material constantly threaten ing the manufa cturer hesitates to set 3 price upon his future production, or makes the price unreasonably high to take care of eventualities. Therefore the price to the consumer is higher than might be the case were there known conditions to face. The manu- facturer cannot afford to- lose money # on his investment and sometimes he M is over anxious and makes his price # too high. Again we have the breach \ In the circle of costs which reacts all N around to every untoward event.
 Mankind, as it progresses, is more
 and more inter-dependent Stable agreements must be reached by labor
 and capital, by farmer and merchant ! If not lowered. A realization of this
 Is fast reaching everyone, the con- i clusion of the strikes proves it. It takes little to convince the miner ] more for coal next year. It requires I more argument to prove to him that 8 aais strike, in making the coal cost more to the producer of mining tools, Will eventually react upon the price of his pick and shovel, making the cost of production higher to his en- ployer and reducing what the miner may get out of it. But he is seeing it.
 
 which will have to come.
 Of course in all of our discussions we are taking it for granted that we are dealing with organizations that have no idea of extortion in their demand for wages or price upon the Finished product. Luckily for Amer jean business and American labor eX- dortion is not the cause for com plaint in~the majority of instances There IS no argument for those who are op- pressing their fellow man through un- reasonably high prices. These people or firms should be done away with. But we have enough confidence in hu- 5 manity to believe the average mortal desires to do what is fair and proper. T Without that~ all of our striVings would be useless