Evening star., 1921-05-26
Editorial Digest
Lower Wages.

"a eiSot sign OF relle1 went up iioIH
the American press when the Railroad
Labor Board announced a reduction of
wage scales. Surprise and pleasure
at the promptness of the decision
seemed to be The first reaction. for. as
the Norfolk (Ea) Eliot independent
democratic) puts it. the time factor is
especially important" but for the
most part the newspapers feel that
the step was inevitable as the first
move toward normal industrial con-
a. d'llons Little trouble is anticipated,
tnouSn some writer's withhold pre-
dlctlonS until "details are announced"
me Minneapolis Journal independ-
G't :, pueIlcah) states the question as
~ sees 1t from the workman'S view
point: 1T is better for the worker to
nave steady employment" it says. "at
Sohe"h nat lower wage. than to be
idle part of all of the time under
nish wage scale. In the eyes of the
dictum is hardly to be regarded as
!he result of the judgment of a set of
individuals. 1t is simply economic
law:
There is accordingly nothing
sacred or immutable in any wage
scale fixed by the Railroad Labor
board 1t is founded upon general
industrial conditions and these are
changing quantity. Railroad labor
cannot quarrel over a lowered wage
scale which reasonably conforms to
lowered scale of living costs with
out undermining its contention for
hlgher wages against higher living
costs"
This the vast ma jority" of the
iaoor men recognize. the Jersey City
journal tlndependent believes. for
they understand that "readjustment
is two-legged animal: that one leg
cannot ride while the other leg walks.
tnHt living costs cannot come down
Nnlle labor costs rest at the highest
point in the coantrys history" In
ueed' the worker looks at the PROPOSE
tion. or should look at it. in the
opinion of the South Bend Tribune
independent republican,. like a
necessary visit to the dentist: it is
not Pheasant but as soon as it is over
everybody will feel better" Follow
II there are threats of strikes" the
Indianapolis Star independent repub-
lican) feels sure that nothing serious
will happen"
Thus the decision serves as "a test"
OF the workers attitude. says the
the reception of the cut will show
whether. as the Utica Observer
ldemocratic) puts it, employees will
follow the example of the employers
who took the previous raises with
as as good grace as possible, and to all
to keep their faith" While blind
opposition TO any wage decrease of
any sort is obviously futile the New
Orleans TimesPicayune independent
democratic) thinks. the fairness" of
the reduction cannot be determined
until details are announced. But. even
II the workers revolt and attempt to
carry the question to the courts. the
New York Globe independently feels
that it is unlikely that they will be
more generous than the labor board"
The 'elation' with which the cut
will be received will probably be
equaled. the Roanoke Times Idemo-
cratic) suS rests. by the depression"
of the unions, but there is reason to
believe that the latter We're in
measure prepared for the decision"
Whatever the feeling of those di-
rectly affected by the change may be,
the newspapers agree that business
will be pleased. The Boston Tran
script independent republican, de-
clares that the announcement is one
of marked encouragement not only di-
rectly to the railroads concerned. but
to the general public. which has been
suffering from conditions under which
lit is practically impossible for the
roads to operate.
The effect upon rates naturally fur
nlSncS Il TOPIC OF comment. since a Oe-
crease in freight rates al least is IAN
indispensable necessity the SYRIA
cuse Herald independently says. "of
the whole business situation" Now.
with lightened pay ROLL the Buff
ia Times (democratic) urges that
roads RESPOND by recognition of the
public demand for good service and
reasonable freight and passenger
charges" If the cut goes into effect
"the public will expect a cut in rail-
road rates" too. says the Oklahoma
City Oklahoman (democratic). AS the
rates come down. the Hartford Times
(democratic) points out. the workers
themselves will benefit for there will
then be a drop lin many commodities
and the cost of manufacturing or pro-
ducing the necessaries of life, and so
acceptance of the reduction in wages
will contribute to "the restoration of
easier conditions to the wage earners
of all classes"