South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-11-30

10 bear on suD1eCt that Is Ms "hole
ufe's work.
The cruel theory held by a minor
itv 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 bitterest struggles between capt.
tai and labor.
While the number oe such en-
ployers Is small they are largely
men who are in control of the gisan~
tic manufacturing and producing
corporations Of America that give
employment TO scores Of thousands.
They stand together under that dire
banner. Lower Wages and Higher
Profits" a slogan that openly as
serts the right. or might, 10 seize
from both producer and consumer.
Force Wages Down
These arc the men that seek with
out rest, excuse or opportunity to
drive the scale OF wages downward
regardless OF how low that scale may
have fallen through general ecOno-
mic conditions and these are the
ward trend OF wages and are the
last to yield 10 a pressure that they
know Will crush them II they do not
Weld. The conditions Of the wage
Garner. his life. happiness and well
fare of his family are not consider
ed While America may be proud
OF the fact that these men are In the
minority as employers yet 1t must
face the fact that they are In a
dominant. commanding position and
by the very largeness Of their opera
ton can and do cause general de-
preston whenever they can force a
lower scale and set an example
whose psychology is bad for their
fellow employers as we'll as the ma
ton OF workers. They make their
proposals of lower wages not be-
cause their business is endangered
but because they believe they are in
a strategic position that Will allow
them TO put il over
The cry 'Dehation Of Wages. does
not come from the great mass of the
American public because the public
is aware that defation of wages
would leave industry strangled and
lmpotent. Debated wages means
smaller earning power and smaller
incomes for the workers. Smaller
incomes means curtailed buying
mower. Curtaied buying power
means less demand for the prod
ucts OF farm. factory. mill, mine and
shop. Less demand means restrict
ed production. Restricted produc-
ton means less employment for the
workers and a further shrinkage Of
their incomes and their buying
power. The public understands all
Of this. and the public has no desire
TO bring about the operation of such
a vicious and destructive circle.
Having Hard Time.
We do not hear the cry for de-
2 ID wages from the wage earners
themselves. for they realize better
than anyone else what defation OF
wagvs would mean to them. They
know that Debated wages would
bring upon them hardships suffer
ing. -rivation and denial of many
OF the real necessities of life to just
the extent TO which the defiation
process might be carried. It Is
striklngly manifest that the work
ing people OF America are having a
hard enough time TO get along upon
their present wages. without sub
iecting them to the process Of de-
fation.
Nor do we hear tho CRY for de-
fation 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 defatlon means
would seriously affect the welfare
or these business men. for Il would
reduce the volume Of their business.
People can spend only as they
earn.
n you will look around a little
YOU VIII also discover that the de
mEnd for defation or wages IS not
coming from the class Of employers
who give a humane thought TO the
welfare OF their employees. And there
are many such employers in this
great nation.
These are the same employers who
are opposed 20 trade unions and
deny their employees the right 70 or
Eanize FOR their mutual protection
and help. Examine in your own
mind the list 81 those whom you
have heard demanding defatiou al
wages You viii end they are en-
ployers or that tyne Their de-
mand for wage reductions is sim
ply a part Of their plan for the de-
struction OF the trade union move
ment IN America. They have de-
cided that extensive reductions in
wages VIII reduce the efficiency OF
labor unions. They are aware that
organized Ia Dor contends for a wage
scale that VIII enable the worker
20 maintain his family on a decent
American standard Of health and
comfort. II is this fact that sets this
class Of employers against labor
unions
Prices Not Down.
But.we hear some say. Prices
would come down n labor would
come down" experience does 1o-
prove this contention. Employers
are not making such promises we
hear some say that prices have al
ready come down; that manufac tur-
ers have reduced their prices ar d
that labor ought 20 do the sane
Some even 60 20 Tar as 70 say that
prices have reached the prevail lev.
81 and. unfortunately. they Undue.
some people 20 believe such state
ments This encourages some 20 de.
nounce labor for fighting 20 main.
tain It's wage standards
The fact is that prices OF the ar.
ticles that the worker must buy have
mt rorae, down 70 The pre-vyar feve'