The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-05-06
THE CENTRAL
LABOR COUNCIL
Wednesday, May 4, 1921,

President Michel called the Coun-
Gil to order at 8 p. m.
The following communication was
received from Mr.. C. d. Cyphert of
Route 1, Everett, answering a ques-
tionnaire presented to the Council
last Wednesday night, and which the
gentleman read in the Seattle Union
Record. The gentleman's answer
follows:
April 80, 1921.
Everett, Wash,
Everett Central Labor Council,
Gentlemen: My attention has been
directed to your six pertinent ques-
tions appearing in recent issue of
a Seattle paper. Ever an advocate
of frankness in dealing with the la
boring classes, l shall try to an
swer your questions; though friends
warn me that my communication
will be thrown in the waste bas-
ket, and your people will not be
permitted to hear it read.
There is a real need for wholesale
reduction in the cost of manufac-
turing merchandise of all kinds.
Perhaps there never has been time
when the urgent need for food and
clothing was as great as it is to-
day; but, the war has so impover-
ished every one that it is impossi-
BILE to pay the present prices; and,
business men cannot sell at lower
price and make the customary profit
unless they can produce cheaper.
1t thus becomes a duty, which the
American laboring classes owe to
humanity in general, to voluntarially
reduce their wages, permit indus
try to resume, and prevent the pos
sible starvation of many thousand
of innocent women and children.
Answering your questions seria-
tim, will say:
First-The total number of those
listed in this category is a very
small portion of those receiving sal
aries or wages, and any reduction
they could be persuaded to accept
would make no appreciable differ
ence. Besides, members of this class
are generally, in some way, finan-
cially interested in the business,
and can hardly be expected to vote
reduction in their own incomes.
A reduction in the salaries of public
officials at this time would have a
tendency to weaken confidence in
government; and, might cause the
resignation of many valuable Off
cialS.
Second-Fees of doctors, dentists,
etc. are not paid, generally by bus
ness; but by the people at large
most of whom are workers. When
hn &c
duced, they will be forced to lower
their fees or go out of business.
Lawyers fees should not interest
law abiding citizens. 1t is only
criminals who require the services
of lawyers; and, they should be
made to pay to the full extent of
their ability. The money spent by
honest but deluded workers in the
last three years, in hiring lawyers
to defend incendaries and anarch-
lists would, if it had been properly
saved, have gone far toward reliev-
ing the distress of the deserving
poor.
Third: Taxes are so low now
that it is practically impossible for
government to function properly
Lack of revenues has already COM
PEELED US to reduce our army far
below the standard maintained by
other countries. 1t is extremely
doubtful if our present military
forces could maintain order should
serious rioting break out. AS to
enterprises listed in this category:
1t must be kept in mind that prac-
tically all of them are operated by
wage labor and cannot possibly re-
duce prices until after wages have
been reduced.
Fourth: There is no objection to
reducing salaries of architects, etc.
and it probably will be done as
soon as cheaper men can be found
to do the work Lime, brick, etc,
are subject to the same law as other
articles of merchandise. Their price
must remain at the present level
until the workers in lime, brick, and
similar plants accept cut in wages.
Fifth: 1t is not a question of
keeping managers out of the poor
house. 1t is a question of saving
the war stricken people of the world
from starvation. Serious minded
people will resent such attempts at
levity in times like these.
Sixth: 1t would undoubtedly be to
the sordid interest of the merchants
of your town if all people could re-
ceive high wages; but, the mer-
chants are, as a rule, endowed with
humane instincts, and | believe, can
be depended on to aid the lumber
manufacturers in riding your town
of incendaries and radicals and thus
helping to make possible cheaper
housing for suffering humanity.
| am not actively engaged in bus
mess at present; having only just
come to your beautiful country from
Idaho a few short weeks ago; but,
l can assure you my heart is with
you, and l will always do what |
can to help straighten out the tan
giles of the labor problem. If |
can arrange it, l will run in to your
next meeting and get acquainted
Yours respectfully,
C. d. CYPHERT,
Route /, Everett, Wash.
Aside from the fact that the gen.
tleman's answers are amusing, they
are not direct, showing he intended
to dodge some of them and did.
He threw into his answers quite a
bit of levity, which was thoroughly
enjoyed by some of the delegates.
Mr. Cyphert was invited to visit
the Council, where he possibly may
learn he was wrong in some of his
answers.
Union Record
A representative of the Union
Record was present and spoke in
support of resolution adopted by
the Council endorsing the Union
Record Everett edition, and grant