Evening journal., 1919-06-18
Increased Production Logical Remedy
for Expected Labor Shortage and
Higher Building Material Costs


Further complaints regarding the diff
lculiy Of obtaining labor sufficient for
increased construction work now under
way, which were accentuated this week
by reports that thousands Of foreign
ers are about 10 leave This country for
their native lands with millions OF
American dollars, are expected 30 force
decidedly more acute labor situation
before the summer is far advanced
SAYS The American Architects weekly
review. This development confirms the
recent statement Of Tie United states
Employment Service 10 the effect that
II the decrease In unemployed labor
continues at the same rat~ -approxi-
mately 10 per cent. weekly-much
longer there will be a serious shortage.
lf there is To- be a pronounced de
pletion Of labor during the coming
months. a period which Will undoubi-
edly show the greatest amount Of build
ing operations ever known in this coun-
try, u will probably result in higher
wages. This, in turn. may be reflected
In increased costs Of building materials.
prices Of which are now holding firm
in all markets with tho exception of an
upward tendency IN lumber and brick.
II therefore becomes necessary IT,
IN the future. labor maintains its pres
ent wage scale or goes 10 new high
levels, that production must be in
creased 10 the highest possible point
BY this means there would result no
further advance in commodity prices
As conditions develop n Will be less
dlnlcult 10 impress on organized labor
The fact That The only way In which II
can hope 10 maintain the present high
scale is TO encourage the fullest meas
ure Of production.
II Is inconsistent 10 maintain that
there will he any decided chcapening
or labor in the near future. and any
hesitation as TO tho stakting OF building
projects based on a lower scale of
wages viii not be justified, since 1911 |
inere has been q tremendous narrowing /
or The labor supply. II is estimated I
mat a million mon left this country /
before we entered the war These men |
returned 10 Europe in response 10 The
All TO arms Of their native countries
Now The men who made big money in
various war enterprises here are re-
turning 10 settle and spend u abroad
. Is predicted that at least a million
nen viii remain in the army and navy
mi their branches at tho close Of the
ear. In addition. this country is short
he millions Of immigrants that nor
nally would have reached here during
he past three years.
All these factors Indicate that i'm the
Iot distant future when normal build /
ng activities are resumed. thev win
ave a large influence on labor con
itlons in the United states. and thafI
mere viii exist a shortage Of men in
~ lines Of work. This means that 10
greater extent than ever before does
he problem Of labor inject itself into
very economic qustion. By what terms
hall we describe a labor system that
'ermits thousands Of people 10 suffer
or want Of proper housing while labor
~ over the country is seeking employ
nent?
Restricting the law of SUNNY and
iemand has In the past been 50 in
'istently practlced that it has become
'ccepted by labor as a rule and cuide-l
'f Their organizations. seeking 10
maintain high costs by restricting sun
by IS now demonstrated. as falhcIons.
ne reaching influence is shown 10 be