The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1921-09-09
IDLENESs LAID TO
LACK OF COURAGE
Secretary of Labor Davis Urges
More Jobs for Idle.
SAYS 6,O00,ooo NEED WORK
Speaking at Detroit Gathering, the
Cabinet Officer Demands That
Public Work Be Started and
Places in Mills Made.


Detroit, Mich, Sept. 6.-Labor day
dawns on situation that calls to
every loyal American for the best
thought, the mightiest effort and the
strongest faith he can summon Secre-
tary of Labor James j. Davis said at
Labor day celebration on Belle Isle.
"This year Labor day must be dedi-
Gated first of all to meeting the i'm
perative human need of the nearly
100000 idle" said he.
"All over the country strange hush
has fallen. The great American pro-
ductive machine, the wonder of the
world, has slowed down.
'The country is sick from overindul-
gence and one and all we have had to
go on the operating table for the re-
mOval of false values.
Labor day this year must be the
day to dedicate to finding the answer
to the question, what will put us back
to health and work and prosperity
again?"
"The problem of unemployment
calls for instant and energetic action.
Cities, counties and states should
start at once the making of road re-
pairs, building reservoirs and other
public works. Much such construc-
ton or repair is in heavy arrears on
account of the interruption of the war
and now is the time to have it done. A
double need will be met, the public
will be served and the idle are given
tasks to do and money to earn
"FOr lack of courage we are neg
lecting any number of large undertake
ings that would give a mighty shove
to the great stalled engine of Ameri-
can production.
Bad Coal Situation.
"What article, for instance, besides
steel enters more intimately into
every process of life than coal? Yet
the situation we have on our hands is
perfect example of that paralysis of
mind and will on the part of us all
which accounts for our paralysis in
business.
mines are idle and miners with
them because people think the prices
of coal could and may be lower.
Dealers and operators are in sus-
pense because they think that wages
and freight rates should and may be
lower. The railroads are in suspense
because they fear the attitude of end
plOyees. And employees, the miners
with them, fear the attitude and sus-
pect the fairness of employers.
$50 we travel in a vicious circle,
and no one has the courage to break
it. The consequence is that coal is
scarce and will be high this winter Of
all winters, when people should have
their coal at the lowest possible price.
''The price will never be lower, the
situation will never be broken until
one or the other party to it has the
American courage to take loss, to
make move and start the flow of
coal.
"FOr some time the railroads have
been the keyl0g in the business jam.
Like the parties involved in the coal
situation, but on scale that much
more widely and adversely affected
the country, the railroads have been
locked in a rigid tangle.
"With the a1lotting Of 5O0,OOOOOO
to the railroads, at President Hard
ing's solicitation, one of the great
central vicious circles at the heart Of
the national business will be broken.
''The cause of labor is more alive
today than it ever has been.
Advice to Employers.
Low toll Sc,
period when jobs are scarce and the
workingman Is at a disadvantage, to
break down their workers organiza-
tons.
"It seems to those people good
time to even up old scores, to revenge
themselves for the high wages they
were forced to pay a year or two ago,
and see to it that such wage scale
never obtains again.
'The peril IN this speaks for itself.
To employers everywhere would say,
Don't set your wages by the hungry
crowd at the gates of your mill
''Let the open shop mean what it
says-open to ALL" he added. "Any
employer knows that crushing the
unions cannot be done in the first
place; he knows that it would not be
safe in any case. We want no Russia
in this country, no hordes of disor-
ganized, leaderless men, reduced to
such a state of starvation that charity
must go to their aid"
Opposition to the principle of the
living wage also was expressed by Mr..
Davis.
81 am against the living wage" he
said. .It Is not enough. We need to
hear something of the saving wage