The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1921-12-23
WAGES MEANS Gun
TAILED nCY1NG-DEAdAND DOES
NOT COME FROM MASS on Pro
rLE, BUT FROM CAPITAL, SAYS
LABOR LFsADER.
(By JOHN l.. LEWIS,

(By JOHN l.. LSWlS,)
Editors Note.--JOhn Lewis needs
no introduction to readers ct Aneri-
can newspapers. Fer years he has
stood ont q brilliant figure in the bat
ties that have been fought between
labor and capital, q target for abuse
as well as unlimited praise. As presi-
dent Of the UnitAd Mine Workers lac
has been constantly in the public eve
and whether one agrees with his be-
tefs or not no enc will deny that
what he may say on any problem now
confronting American labor Will be
said honestly and with as much force
as the man can bring to bear on a
subject that in his whole life's work.
The cruel theory held by minority
Of employers in the United States that
the worker should he forced to labor
for the smallest possible wage that
can be forced upon him Ia the theory
that has caused the greatest and Bit
tereRt 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 corpora tions
ct America that give employment to
scores of thousands. They stand to-
gether under that dire banner. Tower
Wages and Higher Profits slogan
that openly asserts their right or
might, to seize from both producer and
consumer.
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 cen
ditions and these are the men that
fght most bitterly the upward trend
of wages and are the last to yield to
a pressure that hey know will crush
them II they do not yield. The con-
diticns Of the wage Garner. hisl life,
happiness 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 vet
it must face the fact that they are In
a dominant. comma nding position and
by the veryl argeness of their opera
ticn can and do cause general de-
preston whenever they can force n
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 bust
ness is endangered but because they
believe they are in a strategic posi-
ton that will allow them to put 1t
over"
The cry "Defation Of Wages" does
not come from the great mass Of the
American public. because the public
IL aware that deflation of wages would
leave industry straneled and impotent.
Debated wages means snalled earning
power and smaller incomes for the
workers. Smaller incomes means cur
tailed buying power. Curtailed buy
ing power means less demand Ter the
products of farm, factory. mill. mine
and shop. Less demand means re-
stricted production. Restricted pro-
duction means less employment for the
workers and further shrinkage Of
their income and their buying power
The public understands all Of this
and the public has no desire to brinp
about the operation Of such vicious
and destructive circle.
We do not haar the cry for deflatet
wages from the wage earners them
selves, for they realize better thar
would mean to them. They know tina
debated wages would bring upon then
iiardships, suffering, privation and de-
nial Of many Of the real necessities o
life to Just tho extent to which thu
tleflation process might be carried. 1
il strikingly manifest that the work
ing people Of America are having .
hard enough time to get along upol
their present wages. without subject
ing them to the process OF deflatton.
Nor do we hear the cry fer deflatio
of wages from those business mel
from whom the working people bu
their food, clothing. tools and othe
supplies. Reduction OF wages-an
that's what deflation means--woul
seriously affect the welfare Of thes
business men. for 1t would reduce tn
volume Ct their business. People ca
spend only a. they earn.
Il you will look around a little 20
will also discover that the demand to
lieAation Of wages 10 not coming fror
the class OF employers who give hu
name thought to the welfare Of thei
employees. AMI there ore many sue
employers In this great nation.
These are the same employers VIII
arc opposed TO. trade unions and den
their employees the right to. organic
for their mutual protection and bell
Nxamine In your own ualnd thu, liot I
those whom you have heard dsmani
inn deflatiop ol wages Ton viii d
they ere employers. oe that type. The
demand Tor wage. reductions 70 sampa
q mart of tAelr plan fcf tho 0estsu'
tioo o. Tia Afa6eS unlon movement
America, ,Vhi1 hASe decided that q