The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1920-05-27
PEAK IN WAGES
IS REACHED, SAYS
BERNARD bARUCH.
Industrial Experts Urge Labor
to "sit Tight" Forget
Strikes and Increase Pro-
duction.
sY ROBERT j. SENDER.

period thou h which the country
is now passing, If it is TO main
tain both the esteem and wages
It won during the war.
As they see it, there is no need
for labor to fear that its wages
must be Dictated along will, the
Tatrcr,
these experts declare labor can
continue TO command ills present
wages indefinitely but to do SO
means diminution Of the strike
habit, material increase of the
working habit and a disposition
TO await developments before
making widespread demands for
increased wages.
Bernard Baruch, chairman of
the war industries board, mem
Der of the economic commission
of Americas peace delegation in
Paris and regarded as a leading
Industrial expert says, the peak
Of high prices has been passed.
He reiterated this toAay, explain
ing why labor might well "sit
tight" for a time to see what may
happen. He looks to see Europe
producing more and more, thu
United States exporting less and
less, and the supply of commodi-
ties steadily catching up with the
demand for the same. With the
peaks Of misrepresentation and
ensuing high prices behind us.
Baruch reasons that the cost of
living must 60 down.
The dignity n the vital necessity
OF the man who works with his
hands," said Baruch today, has been
definitely demonstrated as a result
OF he war. He has oved beyond
doubt h a he is entitled to a greater
a of that which ] e produces than
ever before. He may rest assured
that when the reimbursement has been
completed he will find himself obtain
Ing this greater hare. He can never
go back to his pre-war economic
state. All he has to do now is sit
tight.
Suggests Price Cuts First
Continued wage increase demands
at a time when the general trend of
prices ia downward would prove I'M
popular and unsound economics from
the workers, standpoint, some auth
critics hold.
But Baruch among others points
out, that in the process Of liquidation
the workers, wages should not be the
starting point for reductions.
Bring down the prices first" sug-
gests Baruch, n others point out
that this Is the thing that is being
done today n while it is being done,
labor should rest in it's oars and not
block the work of reducing the prices
on commodities by contributing high
err production costs through demands
for more pay.
1T is evident" said Governor Hard
ing of the federal reserve board that
the country cannot continue to adj
vance prices and wages. expand cred
its and attempt to enrich itself
by non-productive operations and
transactions"
Federal Boards Plan.
The federal reserve board, in CO.
operation with the great banking in
stitutions. is attempting now to de-
fate credit, bring Town prices and
curtail speculation. The work is
bearing fruit. But labor costs and
in this must be included strikes,
s~lackenening of productive effort as
well as wages-play a tremendously
large part in the present day situa
ton. Labor can help. say the fnanc-
fal experts, not by debating wages.
but by giving a full measure of work
and not attempting to further initiate
them until the way ahead has been
somewhat cleared.
The exception Of course is made
in the case Of the municipal and
government employees which always
have been VIGOROUSLY under paid and
whose status, along among all labor,
has enjoyed scanty improvement as a
result of or during the val
RETAILERS ASK CUTS.
New York, May 22.-Following the
lead of the ultimate consumer"
whose refusal to buy too high priced
goods Is held largely responsible for
the nation wide price reductions of
the past few days. eastern managers
and buyers for department stores are
refusing to buy from jobbers until
substantial reductions are made.
These stores. claiming to offer re-
auctions OF from Is to &c per cent,
insist that wholesalers must fall in
line and make concessions to them.
Wholesalers in many cities have
branded the price cutting movement
as artificial and uneconomic, as it
stimulates buying without a CORE
spending increase in production, max
ing certain a reaction.
Food Prices Show Break.
Food prices began to break in many
cities today. One large New York
restaurant announced a 80 per cent
reduction on al menu charges today.
Eggs, fresh vegetables and butter
showed a break in prices in Chi
cago. Hotel managers there noted
a decrease in price on large cuts Of
fresh beef. Shortage of farm labor
and unreasonable weather tend to
hold food prices higher, it Is claimed.
Officials in touch with the nations
banking system predicted today at
Washington that a break Of at least
90 per cent. in prices will result if the
federal reserve board is able to carry
through it's credit deflation program.
Breaking Of the freight a conges-
ton will also tend to reduce prices
another 10 per cent. it is predicted.
through free distribution of commodi-
ties. Officials differed. however, as
to whether the defiation program viii
be possible to carry through as
planned.
".