The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-10-21
BULLETIN SHOWS
LOCAL SITUATION
Manufacturers Assn Bull
etin for Month Makes In
teresting Disclosures.
FUTURE NOT CLEAR

Revealing the exact situation IN the
industrial life of Kenosha at the pres
ent time and pointing out that no
prophecies as to the length of time
that the present situation will contln-
ue, the October bulletin of the Keno
sha Manufacturers association, winch
was issued to members in the Monday
afternoon mail treats in detail with
the sudden change in industrial con-
ditions in Kenosha. The bulletin, which
was issued by Secretary Conrad
Shearer after thorough Investigation
of the situation, has much interesting
information regarding the present
crisis.
According to most recent statistics
compiled at the employment bureau of
the association, about two thousand OPP
eratives have been laid off to date. Al
most every industry in the city is, on
short time, and the only calls for help
now on record are from the rural dis
tricts.
Most of these calls are for short
periods of from one to two months.
The work consists chiefly of blowing,
husking and harvesting cabbage and
sugar heets. Farmers are insisting up
on experienced help. Wages about
three dollars per day and board. Over
twenty five men were dispatched from
the bureau to farms in Kenosha coun-
ty Saturday.
No Prophecy Possible.
According to the Bulletin, no accur-
ate prophecy can be made as to when
industry will return to normal. The
time mentioned varies from few
weeks to several months, but in no in
stance can any reasoning basis be at
tached to such statements. AS mat
tiers now stand the factory stock-rooms
are full of finished goods ready for
shipments. All orders have been can
celled and no new ones are coming in.
Until that condition changes, the in
dustries cannot operate.
In some cases where plants are run
ming on short time, they are simply
completing old, unfinished orders.
When that work is cleaned up, it may
mean further curtailment of the force
Of workers, or the complete closing of
the plants. Factory managers are max
ing every possible effort to keep the
shops running as long as possible.
Use "Selective Service"
Attention is called to "Selective Ser
vice" in laying off shop operative. Fac
tory managers are urged to make every
possible effort to retain faithful en-
ployees who served in the army OF
navy during the recent war. This is
deemed an act of justice to men who
were obliged to serve their country
at smaller recompense than that re-
ceived by those who remained at home.
It is also urged that men with fami-
| lies be given special consideration.
Young men without dependents have
had an opportunity the past four years
to save their money. If they have fail
! ed to do so and are now forced to
work, they are better situated to take
care of themselves than are men who
have homes and families in the city.
No Attempt at Lower Wage.
/ ANY SIdLSLueAL. 70 LIE GnGCJ IildC IuS
slack-up in industry is scheme on
the part of local employers to lay off
help and hire at lower wage scale,
| is absolutely false, as every fair
minded employee knows. Even though
the shop operatives were willing to
accept the wage rate Of ten years ago,
there are at present no orders to per-
nit industrial activity. When wages
decrease, the manufactured articles
must also find a lowered market. When
the purchasing power of the dollar
reaches normal basis; when that
amount will purchase two or three
times the quantity of goods it did last
!! year, then and not before may we ex-
/ pect change in the schedule of wage
rates. If when manufacturing is re-
sumed, a change in general conditions
has taken place; if the demand for
products of industry are slow; if prices
! on manufactured goods suffer a ma
terial reduction, it will mean a wage
readjustment. Such, however, has
nothing whatever to do with the pres
ent situation, as every local manufac-
turer is willing to continue operation
under the existing schedule if bust
ness warranted SO doing.