South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-14
USELESS MEMBERS
MUST PRODUCE
Business Men Called Upon to
Get Rid of Employees
Who Shirk.

WASHINGTON. d. c.. Feb. 10
In answering questions OF newspa-
per men today regarding means for
reducing tho high cost II living
Edwin T. Meredith. the newly in
stalled secretary OF agriculture, said
that useless employees. no matter In
what line they may be- engaged.
must be released from 1on-produc-
tive work and given an opportunity
IL become producers upon the sarm
or in the factory II this is done and
II jObbers and retailers recognize
the harm that must ultimately come
from prodteering on the farmer and
content themselves with .eason-
able profit. nc said. the question of
t1e high cost OF living WILL largely
solve itself 10 the permanent good
OF ALL But unless the whole Coun-
ry-aI business and an labor
does recognize this as a common
problem and do the things ueces-
sary 20 solve Sc, he continued. "less
and less will there be Of farm pro
dlce 90 divide among tn whole peo-
pile snd higher and higher will go
tue price OF that whica is pro
dJcod"
i am surprised" said Nr. Mere
dil that I should have received
he number Of messages I have. par
tfcularIy from daily pagers, asking
what plans T. as secretary of agri-
culture, have 20 reduce the high
cost Of living. indicating that the
-oueral feeling IS that ,bis is es-
...r.ffrffr~ ~~rwfrrrftfr-rr r,vrff..v, q
U.s. CT course. related 20 agriculture.
hgc no more than 10 many other
lines Of activity. and I am tempted
30 believe that the solution Of the
problem lies more in the hands Of
t1,se interested in distribution and
reproductive enterprises than in
Tho hands OF the farmers of the
couEtTy.
Useless Employees.
business men must look 60 the
operation OF their establishments.
TO matter in what line they may be
eusaged. and see that no useless
ruplOye. IS retained 10 add 20 the
cost OF distributing what the farm
sr now produces. Useless employees
must be released from Ron-p. educ
tive worn that they NAV 20 into
productive work and add 10 TIE sum
total that may be distributed among
aL
Let us enjoy IN America as high
lv developed n system OF distribu-
ton. and IN this 7 include all the
Professions. doctors. lawyers. teach
ers as well as retailers, transporta-
ION. etc, as we now have, hut let
rs cut out the useless member, the
surplus one here and there. and give
him an opportunity 20 become a
producer upon the farm. o. in the
factory. Let Us have six-tenths OF
o.r people In production and four
terths IN distribution. that there
may be siX-tenths OF what a man can
produce each day for each Of US,
rather than have fOur-tenths iu
production and six-tenths in distri-
button. which gives us only four
tenths OF what a man can produce
each dav for each OF US. To do this
conditions IN production must be
attractive, farming must be re-
munerative and OFFER 10 a young
man who engages in IT an oppor-
tunity equal 10 that offered him
should he go into bank. railroad.
wholesale or retail establishment.
Must Meet Farmer.
The farmer asks that the labor
ers in the mines. the factory, and
the mills. who are also real pro-
ducers along with the farmers,
make an effort comparable TO his TO
see there Is just as little labor ex-
pense as possible In each article
turned out by their hands. thereby
helping the farmers OF America,
who in turn will help the laborer.
This is not inconsistent with the
views and desires OF the loyal in
telligent laboring men. who recog-
niZe the mutual advantage 10 all In
IN honest days work for an honest
days pay. Given this and the manu-
fGcturers, jobbers and retailers tax
ing a reasonable profit and recog-
uizing the harm that must ultimate
" come from profteering upon the
farmer, tho question OF the high
cost OF living will largely solve it
self 20 the permanent good OF all
concerned.
Attention must be given by pub
iic-spirited citizens 20 the methods
which tend 10 quicken and cheaper
distribution OF farm products, such
as better terminal facilities. easier