The labor world., 1920-05-29


Mr.. Lauck declared that labor
cannot be induced to increase pro-
duction so long as it knows that its
greater production will be illegiti-
mately absorbed by the profiteers.
But if labor can be shown, he said,
that increased production will be
followed by lower prices, or in other
words, greater real wages, there will
be no difficulty in attaining MAXI
mum production.
When Labor Will Help.
Exec ssve demands, as we'll as ex-
travagance and waste, in the ranks
Of labor, cannot be checked, he de-
clared. so long as excessive prices
are being exacted by profiteering
; producers and distributors, and war;
{ made millionaires are lavishly dissi-
pating the wealth which they cor
nered during the war grief of the
people.
1.-THE wage Garner" said Mr..
Lauck, feels that in being asked to
increase his output without any
safeguards against profiteering, is
equivalent to urging him to work
harder that he may be further robbed
and his economic status further un-
dermined." Mr.. Lauck's program, in
part, is as follows:
What Can Be Done.
''The first step, therefore, in a
practical way to reduce the cost of
living and to check industrial and
social unrest, is to stop profiteering.
Four practical measures are at once
possible:
"Continue the campaign of educa-
ton and publicity which has been
inaugurated. Public indignation, when
the facts are known, will go a long
way towards correcting abuses. The
wholesaler and the retailer cannot
stand the social stigma of being
known as profiteer. Large cor.
porate interests fear the discredit
which will come from public knowl.
edge of their activities.
1.-The efficacy of what has beer
done in bringing the facts to the
knowledge Of the public, is eviden
at the present time, in the country
wide tumbling of prices, and thu
jealous attempts of certain large in
terests to prove an alibi to the in
dictments which have been brough
against them. The profiteer, either
individual or corporate, cannot stane
the light of public knowledge.
Publish the Cost.
"a law should be enacted by con
gress providing that all comm ODDITIES
entering into interstate commerce
should be stamped with the pro
ducer's cost. The purchaser woult
then be able to ascertain what cost
and margins Of profits had beer
added by the jobber and the retailer
and could Immediately determine
whether the profits were fair ant
reasonable. If they were not fai
and reasonable, the law should pro
vide further that the facts might b.
laid before a United States attorne!
For investigation and prosecution.
This law would effectually sto]
protlteering and bring about reason
able prices without the establishment
b.. OF a costly and ineffective govern
E. mental bureaucracy for fixing prices
For Federal Incorporation.
Congress should enact. Legislation
providing that industrial corporation
engaged in interstate commerce
should take out a federal charter
and that all their security issues, a
well as consultations and reorgani
cations, should be first approved b.
federal industrial commission cor
responding to the interstate com
merce commission, in it's control o
railroad finances and securities
such legislation would preven
the capitalization Of illegitimat
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