Evening star., 1921-04-04
Editorial Digest
Truce in Packing Industry.

Truce in Packing Industry.
| pute between the packers and the
unions. even though it has been de-
| scribed by ono Of the labor men as only
= "truces is considered by most
nswspapers a. a triumph" for the
Harding administration and particu-
| lar1y for the Secretary Of Labor, who
presided over the hearing. The fact
| ers demand for q reduction in wages
| is looked upon with satisfaction by
| a number Of writer's as a sign of the
| times. indicating that labor has come
| to recognize that wages must go
down if prosperity is to return. AL
| though the disputants are only bound
by their agreement until September
/. when the war ruling concerning
| the eight-hour day will no longer be
effective. the majority Of editors feel
that both sides have shown that the
from the use Of force and toward
arbitration.
The New York Evening Post Gin
dependent). hardly an enthusia site
| supporter Of the republican regime
considers the settlement "a nota lie
ministration." for "to postpone a
strike for six months is equivalent
to averting it." The Scranton Times
(democratic) calls the work of Sec
retary of Labor Davis, Secretary Of
Commerce Hoover and Secretary of
Agriculture Wallace a 'frst-class
job" and the Harrisburg Telegraph
yxyh limit hat
the caliber Of Mr.. Davis as Secretary
of Labor is not demonstrated by this
one instance, grants him "a good
start. The Milwaukee Leader Gn-
dependen) says the "Sx-month
truce" is "a bright feather in his
cap and the administrators"
justification of the choice Of Mr..
DAVIS as cabinet official is seen in
his successful role of mediator by
the SiouDCity Journal (republican).
which yards the decision as Sig
nlficant," that it shows that labor
wages in the adjustment of costs
which affect living conditions"
adopting this course. the Kansas City
Star independently believes will
strengthen the labor organization
with the public. Whether there is
will generally accept lower wages
Is not settled question to the Sioux
City Tribune independently, however,
Tor even the packers agreement may
not be permanent II prices do not
keep pace with wage cuts.
1t was rather question. in the
opinion of the Indianapolis Star (in-
dependent republican, Of establishing
the fact that 'the readjustment pro-
gram is not aimed at reducing their
strength as well as their wages" that
troubled the workers. who ARE evil
n i;
to the cut in pay. They evidently
(democratic) believes That a strike
was useless. that more was to be
lost by a long fight against reduc-
tions than accepting them" and the
co9rse they followed is tribute"
to their common sense" To this
the Chicago Tribune independent re-
publican) agrees: "The workers rep
resentstives displayed rare good
Judgment in submitting to the wage
cut fixed by the packers in exchange
and continued arbitration arrange
ments."
The attitude of the workers in
agreeing, to the cut was bound to
come. declares the Mitchell (S. d.
Gazette (republican). with the de-
cline in prices and the general re-
turn to normal conditions. and will
undoubtedly set a precedent for other
groups and for wage and salary
workers generally" To the Savan-
nah News (democratic) 1t is an indi-
cation that: The wild days when
wages were anything the employe
wished to ask, and when prices were
anything the seller wished to ask, are
over"
The Boston Transcript independent
republican,. though it admits some
thing has been accomplished, quotes
the words Of the employees representa-
tive to the effect that they merely
establish "a truce for US to prepare
for war
To this the New York Globe lin
dependent) feels there is a satisfac-
tory answer in the fact that
treaty. or as one, of the spokesmen of
the unions viewed it. a truce. has been
obtained, Is in itself encouraging"
This optimistic standpoint is main
tanned by the Chicago News Cnde-
pendent), which urges that the
doubters should bear in mind that
the packers have announced their
definite intention Of establishing other
machinery for the prevention or set
tlement of labor disputes and OF
giving their employees a voice in the
determination of certain questions
relative to wages. hours. safety and
other working conditions"