The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-03-27

Big business didn't relish this pub
licity. It made the people grumble. A
few papers, here and there; would
publish these reports and they were
causing a lot of discomfort. Big bust
ness doesn't like discomfort. It carries
unpleasant implications. So they de-
ciled that there should be no, more
). statistics. on living costs or any other
Bub bjecf that affected the people, and
congress, with blithesome alacrfty,
proceeded to relieve the situation by
taking from the labor department the
funds with which these investigations
are made.
Recently the bureau published sta
tistics showing that the average work.
ing mans family of five required a.
minimum of $4,000 per year to live
in accordance with American stand
ards. "Outrageous," chorused big
Business Hundreds of thousands of
workers: were receiving less than that.
Many hundre\s Of thousands were re-
ceiving more than third less. Only a
very small percentage were receiving
the decent living standard.
This finding was very embarrass-
ing to "Big Business when it was dis
cussinE' wages with it's workers. It
constituted an unanswerable argument
for higher wages. It was the irreduc-
ible minimum upon which producers
can maintain themselves. It was
backed with official authority and
could not be gainsaid. Very embar-
RAISING, truly. SO it was decreed that
there should be no further fooling
with statistics that were gathered by
an impartial tribunal.
So the appropriation was slashed,
and now the department Of labor can
not gather statistics, and when the
workers demand higher wages there
will be no damning proof of the JUS
tice Of their contention. They will ac-
cept statistics that are gathered by
employers, and they will be accepted
without question or not at; all.
It. is great game that privilege is
playing: It has taken every trick
thus far. It expects to take a few
more. So far as this congress Is con-
cerned, it can take all Of them. Labor
will be left without its clothes be-
fore this combination Of business and
politics has exhausted its malevo1ency.
decreasing the Fat Hog"
Congress is Indifferent to the rights
and welfare Of labor, but it is very So
iifitous for privilege. It never misses
. chance to grease the fat hog"
r When the railroads, with hat in
hand. stood on the steps Of the capitol
with their demand for billions OF dol
lars OF subsidies and guarantees, con-
gress did not fail them. The railroad
LEGISLATION dictated by the Wall street
lobbyists went through without a
hitch, just as written. It gave the rail-
roads everything they asked-all at
the expense Of the public. which in.
cludes the workers. The latter, how
ever, got double dose of exploitative
machinery. They will be called upon
70 make up the billions of dollars that
are TO line the Golfers of Wall street,
ana they are to lose some very VAL
haple economic rights as well.
Hs5ss =. but the outstanding factJis that the
railroads got their money-gat hand
some treatment from congress.
Wuat happened to the workers
W4en they made an appeal, not for
subsidies and unjust guarantees. but
xor!u enough to keep their souls and
bodies together? -
-: hey got what the workers always
get.Wnen they are being dealt with by
congress.
understand the situation, It
should pc stated that government en-
ployes, as a class. are shamefully
underDaid. Thousands of them are re-
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