Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-09-14
IDLENESS LAID To
LACK OF COURAGE
Secretary Of Labor Davis Urges
More Jobs for Idle.
SAYS 100000 NEED WORK
Speaking az Detroit Gathering, the
Cabinet Officer Demands That
Public Work Be Started ard
Places in Mills Made.

1rsrslt. NIeh-. sept. G.-Labor day
oawrs ga a situation that calls 10
every loyal American for the best
thought. the mi-htiest effort and the
strongest faith be can summon. Secre-
tary of labor James J. Davis said az
q Labor day celebration un Belle Isle.
This year Labor day must be dedi-
Gated first ~ all Go meeting the Inn
peutlVe human need 81 the nearly
6U00oUU idle said he.
-Au over the country a strange hush
has fallen. The great American pro-
ductlve machine. the wonder Of the
world. has slowed down
The country Is sick from 0verlndul-
Eeuce aud ore and an we have had 20
80 on the operating table for the re-
mJvul ~ false values
Labor day this year must be the
day Gen dedicate Go finding the answer
O. the question. What viii put rs back
o. health and work and prosperity
uEuiuT"
The problem Of unemployment
calls for instant and energetic action.
Critics. counties and states should
start at once the making 81 road re-
pairs. building reservoirs and other
public works Much such c0nstruc-
ton ar repair is In heavy arrears on
account ~ the interruption ~ the war
and now Is the time 20 have Il done. A
double need win be met. the public
viii b. served and the idle are given
tasks 10 do and money 10 earn.
~For lack % courage we are neg
lecting any number Of large undertake
ines that would give a mighty shOge
60 the great stalled engine OF Ameri-
can production
Bad coal Situation.
~What article. for Instance besides
steel enters more intimately into
every process az life than coal7 Yet
the situation we have on our hands is
q Perfect example II thar paralysis Of
mind and win on the part al US all
which accounts for our paralysis In
business.
Mines are idle and miners with
them hetauSe people think the prices
81 cr1l cou.d and may Dee lower.
Dealers and operators are In sus-
peuSe because they think that wages
ami freight rates should aud may be-
lower. The railroads are in suspense
because they fear the attitude Of EN-
rioyees. And employees. the miners
with them. fear the attitude and sus-
Teel the fairness ~ employers.
ESQ We travel in "a vicious circle.
and ma one has the courage 90 break
g. The consequence is that coal IS
scarce and win De high this winter o.
uu winters. when people should have
their coal SIC the lowest possible price.
The price will never be- lower. the
situation win never be broken until
enc az the other party 60 IL has the
American c1uuse 10 take a loss. 60
make a move and start the flow OF
coal.
For some time the railroads have
beeu the keyiOg In the business Jam.
Ike the parties involved In the coal
situation. but on a scale that much
more widely and adversely affected
the country. the railroads have been
locked ia a TiEid tnngle.
with the allotting Of S500.0O0.0o0
fug'S solicitation. one % the great
central vicious circles ut the heart Of
the national business viii b. broken.
The cause II labor Is more alive
today than e ever has been.
Advice 70 Employers
"a few employers have taken this
period when Jobs are scarce and the
veorEfnEman s. sc q disadvantage. 10
break down their workers organiza-
tiUuS
-It seems "a those people n good
time ta even up eiC scores. % revenge
themselves for the high wages they
were farcsd o. pay year or two ago.
uud See fa 20 that such a wage scale
never obtains azaiu-
The peril IN this speaks Tor itself
To employers everywhere I would SAY.
Uou't SAT- your WAGES by the hungry
crowd af the gates ~ your MILL
~Let the opeu shop mean what II
says-upgn 60 ail~ he added. ANY
employer knows that crushing the
unions cannot he done in the first
rlacc. h. knows that IL would not ne
safe To- any case. We want no Russia
ln this country. 10 hOrdes OF dis0r-
canized. ieaderless men. reduced 20
such 81 state % starvation that charity
must ~ On their aid
Opposition 90 the principle 81 the
living vase also was expressed by Mr..
Davis.
Il am azuinst the living wage he
said. 1T O. not enough. We need 70
hear something of the saving wage