The Topeka state journal., 1919-05-30
THE ENDLESS CHAIN.

The strike which started in Winni-
peg more than a week ago seems to
be spreading all over British America.
Economists and financiers are giving
the subject both of the present and of
the future relations of labor and cap
ital very serious thought. They be-
lieve that upon a just, equitable and
harmonious solution of the problem
presented by labor depends not merely
the future prosperity of the world, but,
what is more important. continuation
of the present economic system and
future industrial peace.
Wages of labor today exceed those
paid in pre-war days, in many in
stances by more than 100 per cent. If
this were to be the capstone and IL as
surance was given to capital that here
after labor would remain satisfied
with it's actual remuneration, or If la
Dor would definitely state when it
would rest content and satisfied, the
problem could be solved with COM
parative ease. But labor does not
make such a statement, and what is
more serious, labor declares it will not.
Hence. one raise of wages merely pre-
eedes another demand for still more,
which, when granted, again leads to
fresh exactions. And these fresh ex-
actions must be granted. Such is the
power of labor thru it's perfected Or
ganization that capital is helpless. 1t
is forced to yield in order to continue
business.
The fact that labor can enforce its
demands by strikes, and that unless
adjustment to the new exactions is
promptly met, these strikes spread,
threatens paralysis of industrial life.
Capital frankly declares that unless
labor limits it's demands one of two
courses only are left-either factories
will be closed, precipitating locpout
that may lead to worse. or the de-
mands will be granted, in which event
increase in the cost of the articles
produced must be borne by the con-
sumner. OF course, neither alternative
solves the problem: neither assures
future peace.
The situation that confronts prac-
tically all manufacturing countries,
says Investment News, is that manu-
factured articles are constantly rising
in cost, the rise beginning with the
raw product, and only ending after it
has passed thru hands of distributors
middle men and retailers until it final
ly reaches its ultimate destination. the
consumer. Just what proportion of
the higher cost which the consumer
pays today can be traced to labor is
a debatable question; it is certain la
Dor enters very largely into this high
er cost, to the extent OF possibly 60
to 70 per cent. The production of
the raw material, of metals turned
out at the mines; or of grains, or cot
ton produced by the farmer, depends
largely nowadays upon the higher re-
muneration paid to labor. AS this re-
muneration increases. SO the cost of
these raw materials increases.
The miner receives close to 100 per
cent moro in wages now than he did
five years ago; the farm hand and
the factory worker similarly receive
much larger emoluments. The rail-
road operative, from track hand to
locomotive engineer, comes into his
share, in some instances zoo to 800
per cent more than five years ago.
The jobber the distributor, the whole
saler, the retailer all increase pro-
portionately their requirements, on
the ground that they, too, pay their
help a great deal more than formerly
All these increased costs fall on the
consumers, the large majority of
NH
vance in wages calls for heavier out
lay on the part of workers to obtain
the necessaries of life. So increased
wages and increased prices go round
and round in an endless chain. No
solution of the problem appears to be
at hand