The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1920-02-14
HIGH WAGES AND THE c. OF l..

DAlLWAN broth,rhocd' in'ist on . reduction IN TIE o' Of n'hs a. ",
~ only alternative to increased wages At least oe brotherhood delayed
strike action to give the government opportunity TO ee' 'un 'e'u''"''
which IN, government, failed 70 do What the government has o accom-
.i;.h.d 4, NJ, mat six months h will not attain unaided 30 the uear future
While other influence, have 'oms bearing on the problem greater production
md less eurayagane, are IN. chief factors 10 which We may look nope'uIy ir
an .pereeiable reduction in the cost Of living Md unless there g" q change
IN Ina, direction higher wage vii avail lnle and may even iniute those who
EEK them.
That h., ALREADY happened in ISOLATED rn't'oeeh An English piano
:, n,,d orr, ,c,,i increases. More wef. asked. and the other day the
.,,hi.hrent shut down throwing hundred, Of men out Of employment They
Ind killed IN. oo.e which laid the golden eggs Other institutions in Great
Britain and this country are threatened with similar Suspension. An American
rsnufacturer Of national prominence. announced lately that his plant was
>r<,,rv ooer,,ing al a los, That procedure eanno continue long Il IS
morouie,M impossible and M. economic laws IRE OF subject to the ~himS
Of lfi. roup. whether they bt OF labor capital or politicians lt' a phase
Of the problem which labor should cohsiaef for ~ own good az well " tor
the Welfare Of the country.
The fault i, not only that higher wages n1ca'e the ot OF ptodIton
Worse than tia, they hay, actually reduced production Thus thftAs OF
reduced oupu, a, a mean, of providing more Jobs must ultimately mean no
Jobs II all for many men Labor may be hoist W It's own peidfd' may mUe
ID own Membership while inuhng others by a theory fundamentally false
Individual effort il, the foundation Of American development and prosperity
The need for indyidus, effort !, no; 20 be replaced by any scheme OF col
ie.ive bargaining That IA, it, place in Our Industrial program. 1t has
accomplished much for labor. but when it works to eur'al production e - IN
q fair m 10 defeat the very purpose for which II /, intended.
II ,bo., receiving higher wages-and most workcts are-Would benefit
from the larger envelope, they must produce the good, that wealth must buy
Unfortunately ,m, he, MOI been done Men hayeheen granted wage increase
and worked fewer days per week since they could make n. much money or
u,, in the shorter Tina After which they have complained ,a, increased
living expenses absorbed ne increase. The blind should be able to see that
such . course must inevitably make Tor higher prices; that those who take
their leisure that way ars contributing to III. evil they appeal TO a helpless
government 10 check. Knowing the demand Tor workers. others have seen ~
20 dawd a, their tasks; to do indifferent work and les, OF il
Until ,ha, policy is reversed. increased wages will afford but temporal,
relief. Unless m gives service Tor the pay hr receives he IL a cheat Thai
he is also cheating himself should appeal 20 him II he is deaf TO the require.
acn,, OF fairness. High wages ire really labot' opportunity. Combined with
Thrill, ard industry they MAJ mean comfort and a competence; combined wUH
extravaganza and shiftes,ness they mean only disaster tt all including the
rorkers themselves. TM, problem is for all workers union workers and non
mon, hand worker, and brain worker Tn. solution Is ,impi. Il is a TINT
ior more common sense and les. OF pretty theories tina, woni work and tn'
IL carried TOO far. spell ,tagnaroh and chaos