The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-07-16
ENOUGH TO EAT,
ENOUGH TO WEAR
NOW PRODUCED

Washington, D. c., July 10-lr
support of his contention that $22Ol
a year is the bare minimum wage
on which a family in the mining
regions can be maintained in health
and reasonable comfort, w. Jett
Lauck. consulting economist for the
United Mine Workers of America,
forwarded today to President VII
sons Anthracite Coal Commission at
Scranton, Pa, various supplemental
exhibits showing that the produc-
tivity of the country is sufficient
to assure Il comfortable standard of
living to each of the 10000 900 or
more families in the United States.
Mr.. Lauck is chief economic coun-
sci for the mine workers of the an
thracite fields of eastern Pennsyl-
vania who are now waging their
fight before the Presidents Com
mission for a living wage and recog-
milton of the union.
To dtermine what constitutes a
fair standard of living, Mr.. Lauck
took as a guide the recently prepared
budget of the u. S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics which details the mini
mum supply of articles which fam
lily needs throughout the year.
With respect to shoes, the require
ments of the population of the coun-
try would aggregate, under the pro-
visions of the Washington budget,
100000 pairs annually, whereas
the actual production of leather foot
wear amounted to 292,000,000 pairs
according to the last available
figures
With reference to materials for
suits, dresses and other clothing
made of wooden goods, it is shown
that the total requirements of the
population are 100000 square yards
per year, while production amounted
to 100000 yards.
Notwithstanding the fact that
much of the woven goods is used for
purposes other than clothing" said
Mr.. Lauck, at is evident that the
output is amply sufficient to supply
all these other needs and also to
clothe the total population, accord
ing to the standards seto up in the
Washington budget.
Substantially, the same results
are found to be true of other articles
of clothing. In some cases there is
a shortage, and in other cases an
excess, but it is clear that by a
slight change in the character of the
| output, there would be an ample
supply of all articles of clothing
to meet the needs of the population.
Mr.. Lauck found, almost without
exception, that the domestic pro-
duction of every article of food is
sufficinet, when properly distributed
to give everyone in the country suf-
ficient for his wants.
"The meat needs of the popula-
ton are approximately 430 pounds
per family of five per year." said
the study. "The total production of
meat is sufficient to provide each
family with 472 pounds a year.
"In the case of fresh fruit, the
needs are 400 pounds annually per
family, while the total production of
the commoner varieties is shown by
| official statistics to be 6S2 pounds
again, the total requirements of
the Washington budget with respect
to eggs amount to 102 pounds per
year; while the production is suf-
ficient to give every family 10
| pounds.
Examination of the data for other
articles Of food show similar results.
| Without any important exception,
| the production is very much in ex-
cess of the amount necessary to
provide for level of healthful and
comfortable living. This conclusion
is strengthened by the fact that the
total requirements of all sorts of
food, under the Washington budget,
| amounts to 5,093 pounds per family
per year, or more than half a ton
of foodstuffs which the average
person eats in order to maintain his
health. Whereas, the total yearly
production of food of all kinds as
reported by Government statistics is
$3.50 pounds, and the government
statistics do not include the product
of small gardens, which in all con-
stitute very considerable amount"
Mr.. Lauck made it clear that his
study was based on actual produc-
ton, and did not go into the cues
tion of potential production capacity
ut is generally recognized, how
ever, that the productivity of the
mines, farms and factories of the
country could be greatly expanded
if the existing systems of prediction
and distribution were better organ.
led" he said. Moreover, it might
well be contended that with a living
wage for every worker, the conse
quent increase in health and mental
contentment of the people would re-
suit in marked increase in the
efficiency and productivity of the
| workers themselves -