The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1921-12-22
DEFEATED WAGES
IS NOT SOLUTION
Means CuHailed Buying by Public
Is Contention of Labor
Leader
Says Demand Does Not Come From
Mass of People But From
Capital
BY JOHN l.. LEWIS.

BY JOHN L. LEWIS.
Editors Note e-Jonn l.. Lewis needs
no introduction to readers of American
newspapers. For years he has stood
out a brilliant figure in the battles
that have been fought between labor
and capital, target for abuse as well
as unlimited praise. AS president Of
the United Mine Workers he has been
constantly in the public eye and wheth-
er one agrees with his beliefs or not
no one Will deny that what he may say
on any problem now confronting Am
ercan labor will be said honestly and
with as much force as the man can
bring to bear on a subject that Is his
whole llfe's work.
The cruel theory held by a minority
OF employers In the United States that
the worker should be forced to labor
for the smallest possible wage that
can be forced upon him is the theory
that has caused the greatest and bit
terest struggles between capital and
labor
While the number OF such employ
ers is small they are largely men who
are In control of the gigantic manu-
featuring and producing corporations
Of America that give employment to
scores Of thousands They stand to-
gether under the dire banner, Lower
Wages and Higher Profits" slogan
that openly asserts their right, or
might, to seize from both producer and
consumer.
Force Wages Down
These are the men that seek without
rest, excuse or opportunity to drive
the scale Of wages downward regard
less Of how low that scale may have
fallen through general economic condi-
tions and these are the men that fight
fight most bitterly the upward trend Of
wages and are the last TO yield to a
pressure that they know will crush
them II they do not yield The condl-
tions of the wage Garner. his life hap
piness and welfare of his family are
not considered While America may
be proud of the fact that these men
are in the minority as employers yet
II must face the fact that they are in
dominant, commanding position and
by the very largeness OF their opera
ton can and do cause general de-
preston when ever they can force
lower scale and set an example whose
psychology Is bad for their fellow en-
ployers as well as the nation of work
ers. They make their proposals of
lower wages not because their business
is endangered but because they believe
they are in strategic position that
will allow them to put it over"
The cry "Dehation OF Wages" does
not come from the great mass OF the
American public, because the public
is aware that dehation OF wages would
leave industry strangled and impotent
Debated wages means smaller earning
power and smaller incomes for the
workers. Smaller incomes means cur
tailed buying power, Curtailed buying
power means less demand for the pro-
ducts Of farm, factory mill, mine and
shop, Less demand means restricted
production Restricted production
means less employment for the work
ers and a further shrinkage in their
lHtbluCS anu NHtlI buNlHk DOWtIs Inc
public understands all of this, and the
public has no desire to bring about the
operation OF such a vicious and des-
tructive circle.
Having Hard Time
We do not hear the cry for debated
wages from the wage earners them
selves, for they realize better than
anyone else what denation of wages
would mean to them. They know that
debated wages would bring upon them
hardships, suffering, privatlon and de-
NAL of many of the real necessities Of
life to just the extent to which the
denation process might be carried. 1t
Is strikingly manifest that the work.
ing people of America are having a
hard enough time to get along upon
their present wages, without subject
ing them to the process of dehation.
Nor do we hear the cry for defaton
of wages from those business men
from whom the working people buy
their food, clothing, tools and other
supplies. Reduction of wages-and
that's what delation means-would
seriously affect the welfare of these
business men. for 1t would reduce the
volume of their business, People can
spend only as they earn.
II you will look around a little you
will also discover that the demand
for denation of wages is not coming
from the class Of employers who give
humane thought to the welfare OF
their employees. And there are many
such employers in this great nation.
These are the sams employers who
are opposed to trade unions and deny
their employees the rifgt to organize
for their mutual protection and help
Examine In your own mind the list
of those whom you have heard de.
manding denation of wages You will
find they are employers of that type
Their demand for wage reduction /.
simply part of their plan for the de.
struction of the trade union movement
In America. They have decided thai
extensive reductions In wages will re-
duce the efficiency of labor unions
They are aware that organized laboi
contends for n wage scale that will on
able the worker to maintain his fam
lily on decent American standard
of health and comfort II Is this fac
that sets this class of employers
against labor unions.
Prices Not Down
But, we hear some say: Price
would come down II labor would com
down" Experience does not prove thi
contention. Employers are not max
ing such promises We hear some sa,
that prices have already come down