The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1920-12-24

III Cahdud. NoW IHdC e8CoFLlOnaC'
prices have begun to decline in whole
sale markets and are just beginning
to be reflected in some retail stores
a few shortsighted employers war
to reduce the wages of shoeworkers
about 20 per cent.
In Massachusetts there is a com
mission on the necessaries of life.
That commission says that in Septem
ber, 1920, the cost of living actually
increased 2 per cent. For the month
of October, 1920, it reports decrease
Of 2 per cent. The workers of Mas.
sachusetts then would be at the same
cost of living November /, 1920, as
they were on September /, 1920, or at
the very peak of the high cost of liv-
ing, or Just turning the peak, just as
one prefers to view it.
There are many things in which
there is no reduction in sight We
have heard of no reductions in house
rents, milk remains at the highest
price Eggs are higher than ever
before. Reductions are reported in
the wholesale price of flour but they
have not reached the consumer. The
worker pays more to get from his
home to his work and there are no
signs of reducing this cost.
We hear of markdown sales of clo-
thing but even the reduced prices look
twice as nigh as the same grades
were priced six years ago. If any
of US are i'll, we find that doctors fees
are increased and we have not heard
of any movement to reduce the wages
of doctors, nor of undertakers. 1t
costs more to live, to be sick and To
be buried when any of Us die.
And still some embrace the fallacy
that reduction in wages of shoework-
ers is now in order. Having in mind
that certain fundamental expenses in
the cost of living are higher than ever
before known and BID fair not to be
reduced, such as high transportation
costs of persons and products. house
rents, fuel, professional services. etc.
the fact remains that if wages are
reduced, the amount left for purchase
Of ordinary commodities will be less
than it was before the war. If not
actually in dollars it will be far less
IN purchasing power because no one
can imagine that general commodity
prices will be anything but consider.
ably higher than the pre-war level.
Increased transportation charges viii
alone insure that condition.
The most foolish of the fallacies as
to wage reduction is the idea that the
shoe workers will accept such, or that
employers are in any position of
vastly superior strength. We wish to
speak of these matters in calmness
and in fairness, without any bitter
ness or misunderstanding. We under
stand that many concerns have suffer
ed large losses through cancellations
and returns, and through shrinkage
in inventories. Application has been
made for readjustments of income
tax to the federal government on the
ground that to complete the payment
of last years income tax would mean
to impair present capital.
1t is even said that these losses and
shrinkages are in some cases so Sc
we're as to wipe out all profits in the
years Of 1913 and 1919, on which in
come and excess profits taxes were
computed and paid. Banks are said
to be heavy holders of shoe trade
loans, and are anxiously waiting for
business to start up so their customers
can recover through business activity
what they have lost in cancellations
and shrinkages in inventories.
On labor's side, we do not wish to
boast of our strength. We are not
stronger than we could wish, but we
are stronger than we ever were be-
fore. We have more members and
greater financial resources. If fight
should come over attempted reduc-
tions in wages, we are probably
strong enough to make some business
for bankruptcy courts before the bat
tie is over.
We confess that we do not know
why shoemakers should accept reduc-
tions III wages under present condi-
tions, nor how employers can compel
acceptance of such reductions if the
shoemakers are opposed to them.
Neither do we understand how banks
can afford to lend money for wage re-
duction fights at a time when loans
for legitimate business are being cur
tailed, or when a revival of normal
business activity is needed to save the
commercial lives of perhaps hundreds
of concerns.
1t has not been the policy of this
union, either during or since the war,
to try to take any undue advantage of
the unusual conditions that have ex-
listed. Every advance we have secur-
ed has been obtained either by mu-
tual agreement or by arbitration. We
have adhered to our arbitration con
tracts and policy, and we now expect
a similar spirit of fair play from the
employers. The decision rests with
them IF thew decide that thev prefer