The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1921-12-16
HOW UNIONS SERVE


wages in falling market. These
doctrinaires are less numerous than
formerly, but they are not extinct.
The recent decline in wages has
prompted them to renew their criti-
cism of the theory and practice of
trade unionism.
Wages, they argue, fiuctuate with
the condition of trade and the labor
market, and are not affected by
union activities. Evidence to support
this view is seen in the fact that dur
ing the war boom the wages of un-
organized labor rose as we'll as the
wages of organized labor, while the
wages of both are now falling. Were
the unions really effective, they would
be able to prevent the drop, it is
maintained.
Like many another fine-spun alb
stract theory this one will not meet
the test of fact. 1t is doubtless true
that wages generally went up during
the war boom, but the wages of or
ganized labor rose sooner and higher
than the wages of unorganized labor.
And now that the pendulum is swing
ing the other way, unorganized labor
is taking the biggest reductions. This
is attested by the federal reserve
board, which in it's April business re-
view says: Wage readjustment has
been greater among unskilled work
ers and those not possessed of
strong labor organization"
Such testimony to the value of
trade unionism only bears out what
might be inferred from the mere ex
istence and growth of unions. If the
unions accomplish nothing they would
disappear. Doubtless labor organiza
tions cannot fix wages to suit them
selves. They are obliged to follow a
policy determined in the main by in
dustrial and business conditions. Yet
it is undeniable that they can and do
exert a favorable influence on wages,
and are a real protection for workers
in bad times as we'll as good.
- E Pa "a ~
SURE THING
A local evening paper had an ar
ticle the other night wherein it was
suggested that since the city is short
of funds that some men volunteer to
serve as safety director, service direc-
tor and some of the other Offices
without compensation. Very nice, in
deed, and we don't duobt a bit but
what many men, politicians at that
and especially among the outs, would
gladly volunteer to fill these posi-
tions without compensation other than
the prestige to be gained by the pat
ronage to be handed out and which
of course means nothing to a politi-
cal machine Kind idea, indeed! The
suggestion doesn't say anything
about volunteering to dig the sewer
trenches, lay pipes, clean out sewers
or things of that kind
"a pa "a "a Es
AN ASTOUNDING ADMISSION
An astounding statement was made
on the floor of the United States
senate recently by senator from
Louisiana.
The senate was being formally ad-
vised of the death of Chief Justice
White of the United States supreme
court.
Senator Ransdell, of Louisiana, was
discussing the life work of Justice
White and of his position on the su-
preme court.
"For the past ten years." said Sen
ator Ransdell, Justice White has
been head of the highest judicial trib-
unaI on earth. The United States
which has the power to nullify the
acts of the highest legislature of the
land No other court, so far as am
informed, of sovereign country has
that power"
In other words, five old men, ap-
pointed for life and responsible to no
one, but constituting majority of
the nine members of the supreme
court, can make and unmake laws
of this country.
Senator Ransdell, however, perhaps
unwittingly, spoke the truth. The
country has had plenty of examples
recently of the manner in which the
supreme court is automatically usurp-
ino the larisIatiua field and arhitrar-