The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-02-14
WHAT WAS 20 WARS AGO

WHAT WAS 20 YEARS AGO
Twenty years ago We received
much lower wages than We receive
now. but living expenses were much
lowcr
We werc rrVc men. aud whenever
Il became necessary, or we desired
1t. we could change our line 90
work. For instance. plumber
could take up pircfittlng. a kindred
trade: a blacksmith could take up
iron work In some other branch ~
the industry. or a carpenter could
become a hoNmakcr. plastcrcr a
cement worker. and so on.
We could. and did set by better
than we do now. because We led a
simpler life. THE telephone, electric
lights. steam heated rooms. cooking
by gas. etc. were not thought OF
then. We split our own wood Tor
the fire. carried our own purchases
from market bought with better
Judgment then than we DO now. az
least a whole lot 81 us. We walked
TO and from work and In "a hundred
other ways did what We never think
OF DOING today. when we are enjoy ms
Injuries and pleasures We never
dreamed OF doing or getting years
ago.
We. OF course. came 20 want these
things aS years rolled By and we
saw what others were getting. ana
we were right. We were entitled 10
them just as well as anyone else
and we cast about for means of
getting them. We had 10 get high
err wages. or thought that We did.
in order 20 get some OF these
Injuries then. but neccssarlcs now.
We organized Different trades
formed differens unions. Then We
demanded. section AZ a time, more
wages and were we refused We went
out on strike Sometimes We got
the raise. and more often did not.
then Il was a struggle TO gct hack
10 work. often az worse conditions
than We had before.
Only a small section OF the work
erS would make this demand az
time and when we succeeded the re-
rnalnder. organized and unorgltniEed.
remained stationary as 20 wages
and became worse off than they
were before. because as fast "a
there was any advance IN wages ny
would 20 living expenses. and as
We all had 20 pay tho same for
what we wanted Il n plain that
those who did not gct a raise sur.
fcrcd. Even the man who got the
z raise became no better OF because
Of the immediate raise In expenses.
know We cry out. cut the cost
Of living down" but the fact re-
mains that IL Il costs more 70 raise
potatoes than Il did. we must pay
more for them. The kick we have
against the middle man. the packer
and the profiteer Is justified. but
that question Is so ramified and
complicated that I do not think It
can be settled To the satisfaction OF
everyone. II Is too great problem
for me to talk about All I am
concerning myself about is what
was" What IS and What should
be" cannot see what big wages
does for me II / have to pay IL all
out In a bare living
WHAT IL
There IL a greater demand for
common and expert labor now than
there ever was. and there Is more
work than there ever was to do.
Living expenses are increasing
faster than the average wage. ana
our wants are becoming more and
more every day. and consequently
to make ends meet we demand more
wages.
We strike. strike. strike. and with
what result Success sometimes.
but failure most of the time.
IL we are successful what does II
gct US? Nothing. We are In the |
same position. Paying all we get
for a living.
The late strike caused n terrible |
loss TO everybody worker, employ. |
or. organized labor and unorRanlzed /
labor. innocent people. tho they 1
may sympathize. suffer. Everybody /
Loses.
We were told by the metal trades /
that IL we help them obtain their 4
demands now. that they will help
US In the future. Wen. suppose they
keep their word. II have seen tie /
time when all we got was the laugh .
what then? II means that we Will 4
all 20 out again to help some other .
section OF wage earners get theirs, 1
and out again for some other group.
and so ON and so on. What then?
The undertaken for W. We Will all 4
he so old before every union has .
had their 20 that II will never do 4
the present generation any good. I
We will spend our lives in striking
and never get thru. for to keep pace .
with the increased cost OF connrnodi- i
Ties we VIII have to begin all over
again.
II must be evident 70 the sane
man that the present means adopted I
for demanding n living wage IS a
wrong one and one that we cannot
hope To get any lasting benefit from.
Then / hear some say. What Is .
the right way?" and answer. Il do
not think there is any" All / know
5s. What was what is." and / /
think what should be"
WHAT i THINK SHOULD BIZ"
The government is able % figure
how much IL costs To keep the sol.
der and sailor In everything that 4
goes to make up his life Food.
clothing. lodging. medical attend
nnce, hospital expenses. medicines.
dentistry, laundry. etc, etc Then
ii Is just as easy for the same gov.
ernment to find out what the man
who works for a living and receives
a salary should be In a position 10
spend upon himself In order 20 get
everything that goes towards max
ing a mans life worth living and
what a decent man should have. pro
vlding nc can and Will earn u days
pay.
In nv Uav ~ thinking n,yor, All