Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-04-28

KEEP GOING

The prices of 1913 are not coming back. Neither are the wages
paid then. Wages are up. SO are prices. Both will stay up.
1t is Just as plausible to anticipate the return of 1898 prices OF
the resurrection of the 'donar a day wage for worklngmen' IS 10
imagine that the people of this country can step back into their pro-
war stride.
Food win remain high in price, farmers assert, because, a ths
explain. farmers have to pay more than double the farm labor wage
they paid 10 years ago, and their fertilizer, machinery and own NV
ing costs are from 100 per cent. up higher than a decade ago.
Clothing will remain higher in price than it was before the war;
forth cotton in the south and the wool of the west are higher in price,
and the labor cost is much greater
Richard spinane, noted American economist, and special writer
on business subjects, believes that steel, barometer of trade
will be higher in price a yea from now than it is today. Build
ers remain hesitant, - he declares, but each day makes their ideas OF
lower commodity and labor costs less pronounced.
With the prevailing high cost of production (meaning high
ragesA. n 0 cheaper lumber 81 in sight - says John Il. Kirby, president
Of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association
Charles s Keith of Kansas City, a prominent lumber man, and a
member of the association, predicts that lumber will sell Tor $4o a
thousand board feet by fall. "Ths, . he explains, "wil be an IN
GREASE of one-quarter to onetbird over present prices"
And he tells why the increase.
The cost of production has mounted 217 per cent. We face a loss
Of 1O5 OO0 100000 feet accumulated in Europe during N asst hVe
years Russia used to furnish over 40 per cent of the worlds supply
and Russia will be out Of the market for at least four years.
Cement prices will advance 10 or Is per cent. this year, according
T.. Albert y. Gowen. vice president of the Lehigh Portland Cement Co.
In 1913, Gowen said, the average cost o fmaklng cement was o.
cents a barrel. The average net selling price was 81 cents. In 1915
The cost was 81 "A a barrel and the net price received was $le2
Labor insists that wages be not reduced. IN fact, there is a de-
mand for still higher pay.
What shall we do about it?
Some have advised waiting until prices do tumble. That would
bring down wages. to. 1t would recruit great armies of unemployed
Ilmisht spell panic. This waiting is nothing more than not buying
sSmethine you need because you hope by not buying may prhg down
the price. and if many others join you in waiting (elther In the mat
ter Of purchasing building materials, Steel stone. clothing, shoes, food
von will bring down prices. There's no doubt about that. The law OF
snnlv and demand will do it But remember this:
NEVER IN ALL HISTORY HAS MAN HAD HIGH WAGES
AND Low PRICES.
Have you ever seen a team pulling a wagon over a muddy roadf
The driver who slowed up, allowed his team to stand still as the wagon
wheels halted in the deepest mire, never pulled out unalded. his
wheels kept sinking deeper and deeper and deeper into the mud.
But the driver who kept going, who allowed no waiting moment
to sink his wheels farther into the mire, pulled through, unalded and
ahead of the game" !
American prosperity today is much in the position OF the wagon
drivers There's the mire of new business conditions, changing condl
lions, through which the wagon wheels must pass. If business (and
that means every person who lves) permits the wheels to go farther
down into the mire, while waiting for the summer SUI to come outand
dry up the mud, then business will have a mighty hard time getting
out.
But if American businss keeps going, pushing, pulling, 1T Will get
through. and get through in bangup shape. We believe American
business will adopt this method. In the long run, this is the quickest
most satisfactory, and easiest way. Waiting merely increases the diff
fcultes.
Gddapl Let's keep going, pulling the harder if the going is
tough. And soon well be on the dry land of the roadway leading to
prosperity and content.