The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-17
For the Good of
 the Community

LN OR a year or more everybody has j. been talking greater production of the necessities of life Their theory has been that increased production would bring down the cost of living. That seems reasonable and the theory is in accord with the writings and speeches of all per sons who have undertaken to solve the admittedly difficult problem
 There has been also a great deal of talk about stacking of labor and to this is largely attributed the continued soaring prices of foodstuffs, clothing and other necessities.
 The editor of paper at St. Peters burg, Fla, has been studying the problem, and basing his conclusion on the history of piano-making company in England, states it as follows:
 Here is a story that might be told in future years as symbolic of 1919 and so far, of 1920:
 "John Brinsmead and Sons British piano mak- CTS, have announced their intention of closing their factory and retiring from business Their closing will turn adrift employees who have been with them for forty years. They set forth these reasons:
 Before the war they were turning out one piano week for every six employees. In 1918 they were producing only one piano week for every twelve employees. Now they are producing one for every eighteen employees.
 'The employees of course are all paid great deal more than they used to be- As result of raised wages, combined with multiplication of workers, 1t costs as much merely to polish piano as it cost before the war to make complete piano, including materials. A director says:
 It is simply question that we cannot go on making pianos at the present high cost and sell ing at the outrageous figures we do at a loss. We shall not recommence manufacturing, If ever we do, until we can manufacture economically and E can sell at prices that will not be robbng the public This is no quarrel with our workers. We have no difference with them. 1t IS simply an unfortunate state of events that we are drifting into by the whole tendency of labor at the present time, which is to force prices up to such an extent that it is impossible to manufacture any more economically. :"
 Here you have situation that exists not only in the piano industry in Great Britain but in many industries in many countries, and which is today significant and menacing fact in American life. High prices are generally held up as evidence that the dealers or middemen or manufacturers are 'robbing the consumer Here is case where the manufacturer admits the robbery and is ashamed to charge enough for his goods to make profit but reveals the patent fact that that he is not the real 'robber.'
 "In how many American industries today are the worknen robbing the consumer-and there fore also in the long run, ,robbing themselves?"
 Substitute for the English company the name of any one of thousands of Amerl- can manufacturing concerns and the story might well be the same.
 Shorter work days with higher pay nec- essarily means higher prices for the things made. There is nothing else to it. To bring down prices, quantity production is essential. Overhead. expenses continue whether plant is operating or not. h. terest on the investment does not stop with cessation of work.
 The working man cannot loaf on his job and turn out production in quantities requisite to the lowering of prices.
 The honest workman is not afraid to give an honest days work for an honest