The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1919-09-12
In His Desire To Lessen Peoples
Burdens--Can only Be Done BY
Employer And Wage-Earn-
er Pulling Together.

The report which was submitted by
John F. Pierce, chairman, and Issdore
Epstein, secretary, is as follows:
New York, September /, 1919.
ITO James P Holland, President, New
York State Fede cation of Labor:
Dear Sir and Bro.her-Your COM
mittee of members Of trade unions
under the jurisdiction Of the New York
State Federation of labor and affili-
ated with the American Federation
of Labor, whom you instructed on
July 20 to confer with representatives
of industrial, commercial, manufaetur-
ing, financial, transportation and 9TH
er enterprises, and associations rep
resenting such enterprises, with a
view to devising plans to effect re-
duction in the cost OF living, beg leave
to submit the following report:
Your committee does not intend
tG burden you with tiresome disser-
tation on che causes of the high cost
of living They are paten to all
thoughtful men. The representative
business men with whom your COM
mittee conferred presented facts and
figures to show that the high cost of
living is due to the high cost of and
increase in production. These facts
were well known to your committee.
Business In State of Fear.
Articles were also presented to
support the contention that since the
armistice was signed the business men
of the country have been in state
of apprehension due to rapidly chang
ing conditions. No man could predict
one day what new conditions he would
have to meet the next
Uncertainty as to government reg
ulations, uncertainty as to industrial
conditions, uncertainty as to labor's
attitude, uncertainty as to new legis-
lation, uncertainty as to future mar
ket conditions have disturbed and dis
located industry TO degree never ex-
perienced before These are facts
which no body of men ought to dis
pute. Labor will certainly not ques-
tion them
''Your committee is convinced that
this condition is all wrong and can
not be permitted to continue unless
we-and by we your committee
means not labor alone but the people
Of the whole United States-wish tc
invite a disaster unparalleled in his.
tory The people must be given g
breathing spell.
"There must pc a suspension o.
struggling for class and party advan
tage. All Americans must bend theil
backs to their oars and pull steadil!
together against the storm-tossed wa
ters until our boat again rides safel!
or the placid sea of prosperity.
The Work That Labor Can Do.
"The part that labor can play il
bringing tranquility ard prosperity tt
) cur industrial life has been pointe'
out by recent events.
"The President of the United State
in message to his fellow citizens ol
August 25, refers specifically to tn
threatened strike of railway shopmer
and makes plea which may advisedl,
be considered as applying to industria
} disturbances generally The Presiden
! said:
"'The substantial argument whic
the shopmen urge is the very seriou
increase in the cost Of living. This
very potent argument indeed. Bu
the fact is that the cost of living ha
) certainly reached its peak and wi
} probably be lowered by the effort
which are now everywhere being cor
certed and carried out.
"'It will certainly be lowered {
soon as there are settled condition
= of production and commerce; that
; go soon as the Treaty of Peace is rat
) fled and in operation, and merchant
! manufacturers, farmers, miners, 8
have certain basis Of calculation |
: to what their business will be al
? what the conditions will be und
= which it must be conducted
y Higher Pay; Higher Living.