The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-21
WHAT CAN UNCLE SAM DO?

President Wilson, in his message de-
livered to congress on Tuesday. de-
votes much space to discussion of the
relations between capital and labor
and urges legislation which will bring
about a better understanding and
closer cooperation.
Manufacturing costs in an industry
like the making of steel, for instance
are not easy to determine. They prob
ably vary widely among producers,
and they vary widely with the volume
of production. In the long run it is
in the public interest that competi-
ton shall have play and that the busi-
ness shall go to the low-cost produc-
ers. At the present moment, how
ever. there is another factor to be con-
sidered, and that is the wage question
If steel prices are to be fixed by
competition to the finish, the wage
question will be involved. Ultimately
it is believed wages must be revised,
not merely for the benefit of employ
ers. but for the good of all industry
and the entire community, that. steel
which enters into all machinery and.
all construction, may be reduced in
price. But with the cost of living as
it is today this is not an opportune
time to propose wage reductions.
Arguments can be made for them,
and good case made out for the
contention that wage-earners as a
class would gain more by full employ
ment at lower rates, but the defect in
the argument is that it will not con-
vince the wage-earners; at any rate
they want their own time to make up
their minds to the policy. 1t will not
pay to force such a policy until they
see that it is to their own advantage.
In the new efforts to bring about
more harmonious relations between
employers and wage-earners, as urged
by Mr.. Wilson, the greatest emphasis
is laid upon the right of the latter to
have a voice in determining the gen.
eral policies which govern industry
and affect both classes, and here is an
instance in which that question arises
Would it be better for all concerned
to reduce the cost of steel. including
wages, in order to enlarge the output
and pay in the aggregate larger actual
wages. altho the rate might be lower?
las soon as agricultural production
is restored to normal volume over the
world" says a bulletin issued by the
National City bank of New York, 1.-The
cost of food and other necessaries Will
recede and the factor mainly respon-
sible for the controversy will thus to a
great extent disappear. This is the
real basis for the argument in favor of
dealing with wages and prices for the
moment in a tentative manner, bridg-
ing over the time until there is less
obstruction to an amicable settlement.
The railroad administration seems to
be distinctly adverse to any contro-
versy with its own employees, altho the
advances granted in that quarter are
less likely to be revised to correspond
with a decline of the cost of living
than any other advances in the entire
range of industry"
Wage earners must learn that for
every advance they receive they them
selves must ultimately pay; that the
! advantage gained is bat temporary
and can be made lasting only to the
extent that they may be able to lay
aside a certain part of the contents of
the pay envelope.