Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-23
CRISIS in BRITAIN
ON ISSUE Of WAGES
Confronted by Social and In
dustfiaI Situation of Ex-
, treme Difficulty.
BY EDWARD PRICE BELL.
By Cable to The star md Chica 20 Daily News
-s.-- DOWNRIGHT. 1921

Ry Cable To The SfSr md Chicago Daily News
-s.-- Copyright 1921.
LONDON. January 2e.-Great Brit
ain faces an industrial and social
crisis of extreme difficulty and I'M
certain issue. 1t hinges ON the ques-
ton of wages. Capital declares that
wages must come down; labor declares
that wages must remain as they now
are or advance. Capital explains that
British industry cannot compete with
foreign industry with wages here
twice as high as in many competing
countries abroad. Labor retorts that
If the cost OF production in Great
P-.tain must ue reduced. capital must
~ y me problem in soite other way
tSs- w the.'~ t..>'.:a- OF wages.
Conflicting View. " ..s.essed.
Sir 'eter Rylands. chairman of the
Federation of British Industries, rep
- sntIng 2G.o1.v manufacturers, saws:
Germany and Belgium are paying
less than one-half the wages We pay.
Our industries cannot survive such
competition. Our workers may see the
day when they will be compelled to
choose between lower wages and no
wages. Nothing distresses me more
than to menace decent living conditions
for the lasses. but capital must not
be loaded with the burdens heavier
than it can bear"
LAS prices went up long before
wages followed" says J. r. Clynes,
vice chairman of the parliamentary
that prices would be reduced if wages
were reduced? Labor is the human
side of industry and must be con-
sldered in terms of men. women and
families. Sacrifices cannot be carried
far by these families. We should
economy and efficiency in industry
rather than to reduced wages for
cheapening production. Unemployment
must be got rid of or the unemployed
must be maintained. Capital and labor
nave a momentous task and duty be-
and assure aven-handed justice" :
flaDs Tor the Unemployed.
Next week the trades union and
special labor conference. will submit
10 the government plan for support
ing the unemployed out of public
funds and for the rehabilitation of
the stricken countries of Europe Upon
such rehabilitation British labor
bases its hope for the restoration of
trade and the consequent easing of
the economic situation of Great
6ntain. Spokesman for labor. in
Guiding even some of the conserva-
ives, say that unless the government
accents the labor plan drastic steps
will De taken to enforce the workers
Will ;. II. Thomas and Arthur
henderson hint that these steps may
take the form of revolution.
PerilOus Feature Noted.
One of the most poignant and
perilous features Of existing condi-
tons Is the plight of tens of thou
SANDS OF honest ex-service men out
OF work and exposed to the double
torture of physical want and spiritual
humiliation. Robert Blatchford,
well known socialist and -anti-boI-
shevist, says:
Many British subjects. who grew
rich during the war. are now sauan-
qering their money with vulgar osten-
tation. All they have has been made
possible to them by the blood and
sunering OF our sailors and soldiers
ana II is not too much to ask that
those who held the gate should not
De LETT to starve or walk the streets
whiie those who stayed at home live
ricniy upon the gains they made be-
bodies" eh