Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-23
SOLVING WORLDS
LABOR PROBLEMS
Sliding Scale of Wages Sug-
gestcd to Meet Living
Conditions.
UNREST DUE TO SYSTEM
Greatest Brains, Not Greatest
Agitators, Most in Need
at This Time.
UNREST DUE TO SYSTEM
ny Dir. TOULOUSE


PARIS. May ga scale of wages
sliding automatically, according to
the rise in the cost or living is the
only solution to the labor problem
The liked scale of wages Is the root OF
most labor troubles. the nature of
which is biological rather than econo-
mic.
The cause or most strikes IL the
appalling difference between what a
man earns and what ii costs to live
the question OF wages or salary be-
comes one Of life Itself
~ man agrees. today, TO work for
certain amount of money. He makes
a barHain and In supposed TO stick To
IL But what VIII cover his expenses
today may be insufficient TO provide
even nourishmcnt, within Il few
months. The war has upset values
70 such an extent that the man whose
income does not leave him Il large
margin Is never sure OF the morrow.
The cost OF living. for Instance. has
Increased 800 per cent. In spite Of the
genera! cry that wages have gone up.
now many people are making four
times as much AZ before the war:
Very few. The majority have had
their earnings increased 80 per cent
others. perhaps. have seen them
doubled. But what is 100 per cent
Increase OF salary compared to the
400 per cent rise in the cost OF living?
whereas locomotive does not
move unless supplied with the rcQui-
site fuel. the human machine. unfor-
iun<ely, is so constituted that Insult
hcicnt or Inferior food does not cause
sudden breakdown. For consid-
cradle time an undcrfcd man contin-
ucs his usual work. But his Vitality
is slowly sappcd and gradually the
standard OF the race is lowered. Tu-
bcrcu!osls and other diseases spread
10 Il dangerous degree.
What Does Living Cost.
When a workingman. therefore. de-
mands higher pay. IL should not be
objected that he is asking FOR two or
three times ms much as he used 10
get. but the employer should ask how
much IL costs him 10 live today.
Every man has the right not only
10 live. but TO live so that his vitality
Is not impaired y certain minimum
II necessary 10 enable him to buy the
right kind OF food for himself and
Family. provide proper housing condi-
lions. In tho interest o. society
wage carner--should make enough to
insure stronger. not a weaker race.
! Perpetual nagginE is always a
/ source OF trouble. With the present
regime OF fixed salaries. the working
man is obliged 10 demand continually
/ higher and higher wages. This inev-
iiahly creates resentment. The fault
Is that OF the system. What is SUI
/ =
row. And. besides. in spite OF our So
( called advancement, the man who
sells his work is not situated as the
man who sells merchandise. II a
storekceDcr doesn't make enough
profit he doesn't ask permission to
raise his prices.
/ But the man who sells his work
must ask the c1nsgmersIshat is, the
price, and whereas the shopkcepcr
offers no explanation OF his actions.
the workinEman is expected to show
in detail why he cannot live on his
old salary. and is frequently obliged
10 go on strike TO impress his point
I OF view.
which governments and corporations
speak of are frequently due TO the
employers failure to realize the gap
between wages and their mower TO
purchase the nccessaries of life.
Instead OF pittinE themselves
against strikes. our great railroad
owners. fnanciers. bankers. econom-
lists should use their superior knowl-
edge of affairs and finances to work
out scheme for determining a slid
ing scale OF wages that would adjust
cost OF living.
Would Solve Problem.
As the laborer would no longer be
IN the position of having to demand
higher wages. the labor problem with
its strikes would practically be
Z
No class OF society wishes TO destroy
the present regime merely for the fun
OF it. If some people think n removal
ton necessary. it is precisely because
as things are now there is too fire.
ruently 4 biological discrepancy be-
tween mans desire, his right to live
and his ability to do so like a hui
man being, on his salary
/ know the matter OF readjusting
wages to modern conditions would be
~
should be neglected On the contrary,
ii Is the obvious duty Of the greatest
brains In tho financial and business
worlds to take II up.
The universe is suffering from labor
! troubles. Social order is seriously
threatened unless our upper ella sses
feel their responsibility and make it
possible. hiologically. for the worker
to live. The labor question should
not be left to agitators.