The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-09-04
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 1918

Organized labor and the families of
the men who affiliate with labor unions
number possibly One-fourth of the pop
ulation of the United States. Labor
organizations are a good thing, in the
abstract. Nobody who is fair and rea-
sonable begrudges labor any of the
benefits it has secured through organ
ization. The people as mass rejoice
in the prosperity of organized labor as
a class. The ideal condition for this
country is that everybody, whether he
labors with his hands or his head, in
side a labor organization or outside
shall receive a fair return for his toll;
not merely living, but a good living
for himself and dependent family and
a surplus above living and educational
requirements sufficient for reasonable
indulgence in the Injuries and enjoy
ments of life.
But this is a good time for organized
labor to pause and reflect that, while ii
is powerful it is a minority. The IS per
cent of the population unorganized is
in the same boat with organized labor
in regard to the burdens of present eco
nomic conditions. IT is not organized
labor alone that suffers from the high
cost of living II is not organized la
Dor alone whose dollars purchase only
80 or 40 cents worth of food or cloth
ing, compared with values "A few years
ago In fact, the unOrganized 10 per
cent of the American people suffer
more keenly than the organized 20 per
cent by reason of their lack Of organ
izatoni Organized labor's income is at
a higher level, by far, than the average
income of the unorganlzed 10 per cent,
vet the unorganized majority have to
pay just as much for sugar and shoes,
hats and hardware, becfsleak and
beans, as the organized minority
1t is therefore flying in the face of
human nature to expect the morgan
lied rs per cent to look with favor on
any plans Of the organized 20 per cent
to further increase their burdens at the
present time. Granted that organized
labor deserves more income in view OF
present costs of the necessities of life,
it must be granted also that the IN
organized majority is in no less need
of more spending money, or lacking
that at least of assurance that the
peak of high prices has been reached
and that any further changes will be IN
the direction Of lower price levels. Tn
fortunately for the desires Of organ
lied labor, any advances in wages at
this time must inevitably mean still
greater costs Of living for the morgan
lied IS per cent, which has about
reached its limit of patience. knowing
this, the ~ per cent is disposed to turn
"thumbs down on any proposition OF
the rs pcrc eut looking TO wage in
creascs for the minority, with no cor
responding benefit to the majority
That explains why the appeal of PrcsI-
dent Wilson to organized labor to in
dulge in little watchful waiting be
fore striking for higher wages strikes
a responsive chord in the hearts of
three out OF every four fellow citizens.
The times are not ripe for wage IN
creases. The constant cyclone of high
er wages and higher costs of living
must end somewhere Not higher wages
but lower costs Of hfe's necessities is
the need Of the hour With lower costs,
present scales of wages in the organ
lied industries viii be- adequate. forlu
nately, the leaders of organized
labor seem 10 he viewing the sll
uation with patriotism and sanity,
They have not lost sight of the IN
organized IS per cent, whose concerted
Indignation would be dangerous
thing to arouse. The outlook for q
calm and sensible graphing with and
solution of the economic problems of
the hour is hopeful.