Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-21
"Rank and File" Heard From

90 ths Bt;for o, ~ SCec'T5 Pubic Ledger:
str--Al!ow .he 'Srr. Ca-perter" referred
70 S,' ". Z. Sinclair as cGs 9: the rank ard
rls. with quite a few years experience IN
-he building IN 1us:ry IN PEisde,-,.la 70 reply
20 his article in TIE Peoples Forum o; ere
gvSSISo PrBLIc Lyn1Es. Feb-rs-y Z. TA-
aussting that the rsnS s1c f!s os neaN
from, while tire bus.neN aren't Tems!'!S IN
.hs background as he . paid ~hNe me
rank ard Ne Is rot.
The b.sIn,ss as~nt 10 khs humbl. s.ryan,
Of the rans and t!e clothed with rn-sTioted
euthortty TO conrey :hs. will OF the ms
,erity. voice and ro:s. Of tho rank snc hie
ara he represents the action =: tho ms
wherefore II mrst he plain tn Mr.. sineis!-
that Il Is best .tat ths -ArI aad file re-
main II u. chosen position.
Tac writer. carpenter. following thn
huYd,ns !ndas.-- to- G Livelihood n PhNa-
ts.piiiA a, We" a. following Up 'he more
Increasing prices OF huild;ns materials 90 a
nrohIhItlr. hgIyn. wh.!s marcy 10 h.id for
'hs nt9hest builder, n surprised at the
statement Of M. Sinclair that building ma
ts-isis have been r-dNced.. when IN reality
lumber has advanced IS 7ar 1900 tset"a "ahsTf
-hs already proh!h'tive prices. ~-'" e
II mus, bs -.m.nnsred that II. corporate
tnts.ests 10 TO, need 70 Day the oPen mar
isst pr!ees to- building materials o. Gt-ra-
'ions and oclld'nSr and nest OF the wNrf
iors By "a. Incorporated building cornparIss
u done tcr corporations; bnt when they DO
work for private individuals ths huIid!7r
r,teria's the" use DO rot cost them the
epea Tnsrlst --'oe tnst tha general public
hss - pa. Therefore 'Abor's cost o; con-
struc:!on IE ths 'ess: cost or 'he t|rss raoa'
important i'or-a or tAe building, na'ne!'',
overhead ehGrr~s. material and 'Hbor
IT. states 'nNt ''the people Who iosT out
ronsy Ter buvdlrs purpose. are road 20
rAks ths lonrs As soon as ,hey are assured
me rnoany WI. not oe scuAaierea by ths
Srchis!ti"e pr!res OF labor; srd ns :abor
~ems 20 oo 'hs only party holding ou',
would I. n: b" better 20 60 70 vol; Tor
less money
Would ~ 70. SQUAD mare s:lrulsi!e 30 si;'
thtt ths people who are favored with
handling ou- pub 1oasy Tor prof: arc
willing n ah!ds b ths s-!c. law forbid
business and public nsceRSlt!ss' 70 NU.ld.
ins r,chan.e osrHot aror3 % r. 20 work.
ana set n wsxe foT y.ar a. i.Ss .han :h
rressnt rat, OF wasss. ard 1. - a G--stio7
= :h'" cs7 tSord 10 r"-rsin n: the same
wares paid a. present r. tNe FACE OF ne
pressnt prices O. i!"iae necessities ard tive
NJ 20 tns reaIrPnen's % a loyal citizen
But In tN- sle> Q: tres. iuhisputsb'e facts
M. Sinclair hSs ,hs aGose!ty 20 ask th-
mechanic and Su:id!as worGrnen 20 reduce
.he.- warys ~ Offset me prohlbitive and
unhscssr- - hiTh prices for materials ard
rlonsy ara shoulder the bur.sn. wry ns,:
sueh sacrifice IN ths facs OF the well
knowr nnAnci.l conditions OF or countr,'
u money. rnatsr'a!s, ra" ana HSIshso, N
-uch ar aerrdkn"s an ns-e- was known in
the his.orv Of ou- couatr-7
AZ ore Gf tho rank ana f,e o. thS bui,o-
'rs Industry. with ms share OF acqua uain'ancos
among mechanics. !Sborers trd employers.
with q coascl-nt0Ys purpose IN Wow, 70 Fav
Nothing Of = knowledge o' the system under
which Vs all su-s=. FROM ,he smp'or--
town. lee ne urEs uo&n those II authority
governing iniustrtS! enterprises because
'hsy Az favored with 'hS control q public
moneys 20 be used IN enterprise. to cors'dAr
\ higher STANDARD % existence TO- re ne
rhIEio ard UcrSmen and show aors de-
sPr-'sd praise for sprc!E. efforts N E[Il' and
genius above .As minimum pA". and cease
'hs .Ysr-cnntiavous complaints Asains. n,
worHrbn .: al crafts and occapat!onA ard
~. tnirlt ot indYstr" vi. b tnsn!rNd "a
snhis"sm.n's that III bring ESunGa7c. o.
prosper!,:' ard v'a,tN 20 az.
GEORGE n NtETCATF.
Pa!,IGe'ph.f Feh-uR=-' 10 1921.