The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1921-02-18
PESSIMISM SHOULD
GIVE WAY TO SOUND
HORSE SENSE
DRIVING EMPLOYER AND la
BOR AGlTATOR BELONG TO
PAST AGE. MEN CAN GET TO
GETHER NOW.

'N'l ) NlIlHcH vi llle SUaCp OF wash
lngton is seriously interested in an
opportunity to conduct his profess
SION at profit, whether it is practic-
lng law, pulling teeth, running a
bank, operating manufacturing
plant, tilling the soil, making lumber
or working by the day Therefore,
assume that we are all interested
equally in an opportunity to work ac-
cording to our calling.
No good can accrue from being too
pessismistic. While it is true that
owing to the shipyards being estab-
lished so generally in the Puget
Sound country there resulted eXces-
slVely high wages, | think it is equal
ly true that we should all cndeavo :
to forget this condition at the earli-
est possible moment. Labor should
certainly appreciate that unless tho
employer makes profit there will
be less Jobs, and on the other hand,
the employer must remember that it
Is necessary for labor to make fair
living.
There is no good reason from a
commercial standpoint why either.
side should insist upon getting tho
best of the deal.
There appears to be a general de-
sire to get back to the open shop
idea. OF course, every American cit
izen appreciates the right of each of
us to get a job whether we belong to
a union or not. On the other hand,
we must not lose sight of the fact
that without unions, labor is very H.
able to be crushed But there is 4
happy medium by which both labor
and capital can extend fair consider
alton to each other.
Labor troubles usually cause the
greatest suffering to the family of
the laboring man. As rule the av-
erage laborer is not fortified to with
stand idleness, and to avoid
idleness, it might not be bad
plan for all unions to make an early
survey of themselves and adopt a
wage scale that is in harmony with
present business conditions. Moth
ING can be gained by dlenesS. except
grief. This is a time for labor organ
izationS to disregard the advice of
the average professional Walking .
delegate. who too often is only inter-
ested in displaying his authority, in
stead of which there must be con
etructvc leadership in the organiza-
tons
The members of the unions who
really desire to work are in great ma
ioritv. but during the past few years,
the difficulty has been that they have
permitted the thoughtless, irrespon.
-ihlc agitator to dominate the organi-
zation. This was not a serious condi-
ton during the crazy business period
Of the war, but we have now hit i
much lower level and unless reason
able horao-sense is applied, bad re-
ults will accrue.
On TIE other hand, many employ
ers Of labor are inclined to grind to
the lows.t possible depth the sala"-
les Of the men who help them make
their business 90 along.
The state Of Washington is in eX-
roilcnt position to withstand any or
binary business depression, as indi-
Gated by the fact that we have Just
gone through one Of the most tense
financial conditions that the country
has ever known. Our banks have
stood up under a terrific strain. The
failures have been exceedingly few,
which would indicate the excellent
Judgment Of our bankers. The man
ufacturer has passed through a sim
liar experience and with very excel
lent results. 1t is now time for CO.
operation on the part of big business,
little business. and those who make il
possible for any kind of business to
exist
This is not the time to draw your
money and hide it away. If you have
a little surplus money, build new
fence around the home, or erect that
woodshed you talked about for sever
al years. add a bathroom to your resi-
dence. buy the lot next door to you
and plant it to such fruit as will en-
able you live cheaper. Pay your gro
Ger cash for your groceries and only
purchase what you actually need
Start to keep an itemized statement
of every cent you spend, showne
what it is expended for. Read care
fully the food advertisements, study
ing how the cost of operation can be
reduced. Get back of and help slim
ulate all Of your local industries. Car
ry an elm club and knock in the head