The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-02-16
Strikes and The
High Cost ofLiving
lIlrom Illc ChIcago Tribunc.l

NhtAN ~ 1NtNNkN ANNUNutsl
The question whether a wsge IA
rcasonable-that IL. whether Il pro-
vidcs n living according TO a fair
American standard OF comfort-secms
10 have retreated into the back
ground.
Statistics show that while the cost
Of living has gone up SO per cent
since 1918 the Increase Of railroad
pay, on an average. mas gone up los
per cent. aud the Increase 20 main
tcnante Of way mol who have an
nounccd a strike d considerably
higher than the average.
Unless these workers were far be-
low the American standard for their
class OF work In 1918, " would seem
that a fair attempt has been made
TO Keep pace with their Increased
living tcostH and even TO improve
their CONDITIONS.
Yet the excuse offered for the strike
In that the government huH not
brought down the cost OF living.
This reason. IN 20 FAR a. u u sim
cere. must be based ON the theory
that the high cost OF living Il merely
or chiefly the effect Of artificial cen
ditions which can be abolished by
legislation or prosecution, that ~,
the effect OF pronteering. such "a
theory II a public misfortune ~ Il
Induces action like the proposed
strike. which will only make the cost
OF living higher and general condi-
lions worse instead OF better for all.
including the strikers.
IL labor insists upon cutting down
and interruptinE production. Il can
not hope for reduction in the cost u
commodities. any NOR Than a man
can hope not to fall when he throws
himself on a building. No amount
Of mdical orntory can change this
law. no legislation can change a..
II labor proposes to strike until all
cnrnings are equal and until wnges
or profits bear no relation to time.
conditions or character OF service. it
win not produce The Utopia radical
ism predicts. II will bring down
American prosperity and its own In
ruins.
America has a wonderful oppor-
tunity az this time and all our peo-
pie viii profit by % u good sense aut
good feeling prevail. But labor radi-
calism is heading labor and tho
country toward "a morass.
Perhaps We nus founder in h be
fore common sense returns II Be-
largely w to labor whether we avoid
u.
But We do not think the question
OF high prices is the reai reason
actuating this strike or the spirit of
discomfort which no widely prevails.
What really is the matter is "a new
disposition to resent ~ apparent
inequality IN earnings. an this inc
quality IL measured solely hy tho
money standard This II the result
largely OF the artificial and academic
thcories or socialism which AVE IN
fected and weakened the ~sclf-respcct
ing indiyidualism OF normal Amer
icanism. Americans have never be-
fore been Inclined to bcgrudHo what
other men got by their oWn enort.
" " was gained by fair and lawful
But radicalism teaches that
all gains undcr the capitalist sys-
tenn are suspect, and Il proposes u
general lcvcliug process.
American common sense ought to
cuuntoract this spirit and we trust %
Viii before serious damage is done To
American prosperity. 4 railroad
strike Will be- a national misfortune
~ rccurrcut unnecessary strikes and
restriction OF output are already q
national misfortune. They are carry
Ing the country toward certain hard
times i'm which labor will pay heaviest
ut an for It's shortsightcdncss
The high cost or living is chiefly
the result OF the vast destruction and
reduction of production during Inc
world war ana the initiation OF values
necessarily arising from diminishing
supplies. shortage OF ncCcssartes and
Initiation Of currency through Wat
finance. prontccring has some part
in this. but much that passes Tor
profteeriug b. tho inevitable result
Of the law OF supply and demand.