Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-11-21
BUSINESS AND LABOR DURING
REIMBURSEMENT.

year two ago the managers of industrial
plants the United States justified the eXorbitant
profits taken a rising market the grounds
that they would need the surplus to meet the loss
when the market should begin to fall But with
the first serious symptoms of falling market they
show signs shutting down their plants and throw
4 ing labor of employment, instead of taking the
loss which they led the people to feel they
preparing in advance to take. All of which shows
very bad faith and, in our opinion, very bad bust
Judgment
Mercantile businesses especially in Albuquerque
showing better faith and better judgment. They
are very generally following the downward trend
of the wholesale market Thereby they stimulate
buying and their goods on narrower mar
gins of profit, but without serious loss. By this
plan the community will not be harmed during the
f. period of readjustment.
But the manufacturers are tamperlng with very
dangerous economic laws They seek artificially
control the supply until demand overtakes it, there
by permitting them to force prices to stay high by
unnatural methods. If this course is generally pur-
sued the collapse will come by sudden great
smash instead of by easy decline. BY a crash all
business will be hurt that it will be long in
making recovery.
These selfish and short-sghted manufacturers
in a shutdown a chance to starye labor into ac
ceptance of lower wages and relaxed conditions of
labor. If only manufacturer adopted such
generally the non-employed public ceases to be a
consumer and the whole business fabric is torn.
The attitude of labor will have much to do
with the decision of employers, If labor is un-
reasonable, arrogant or exacting the whole inn
pulse of the employer is ito teach them lesson"
We at a critical period when there should
be the closest possible understanding between the
employer and employee so that they are working in
harmony to bring prices to lower level with the
least possible harm to both
This is no time for new and increased demands
by labor. Whether factories will go depends upon
the state of mind of the employer Unnecessary IT.
ritations should be avoided.
The present situation is especially critical for
the building crafts. A who is operating a
going concern hesitates close it. But the build
ing crafts are entirely dependent upon work
being constantly started.
The present state of mind of the who /
thinks of building is that prices are about to come
down. This prompts the impulse wait a
while for lower prices" If builders generally are |
infected with this feeling there will be such fall
ing off Of new work that ideness will result. But |
ideness is the enemy of labor Only when there is 4
work than workers labor protect itself. |
With idleness men who must have work bound l
to break away from the union and take work at Il
such prices they can get.
Therefore the attitude of labor in the building II
crafts be encouragement to building if Il
the hard period of Reconstruction is to be safely 4
passed In many cities the wise leaders of 4
building crafts labor this and adopting a l
coneiliatory course. They feel that labor will do /
well if it can keep what it has already
The uncertain labor conditions in Albuquerque |
last spring which followed in the wake of the /
painters strike, prevented a great deal of new
building. Labor agitation will retard men
from planning new construction.
If the local leadership is wise it will advise every
O n
nouncing that it will make new demands for a
year. This will re-assure builders and stimulate |
new work Labor agitation will kill the goose which
lays the golden egg.
Never have both business and labor been in
such need of wise, liberal leadership.