Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-13
Wage Reduction
Furnishes More
Men With Work
Employees in Some Cases Earn
More After Cut as Fac
tories Running Nearly
Full Time.
By HOLLAND.

telling of a reduction in wages paid
TO employees of one of the largest in
dustries of the state. Seven thousand
employees have accepted reduction
of wages of 10 per cent beginning
September |. These employees al
ready have accepted a reduction of
% per cent, which was made in De-
cember of last year. Therefore with
iE eight months the employees in
these mills are to receive. nearly one
third less wages than were paid to
them in war days and for the year
after the armistice was signed.
This action is of special significance
and importance at this time, be-
cause it shows first of all that in
telligent workingmen in some indus
tries snow understand that wages
cannot be maintained at the figures
established in war days, for if they
are, then many thousand wage earn
trs will be out OF work.
Employees Get More Pay.
Then again by reason of this reduction
the mills not less than five days week
and proba bly, five and one half days. There
tore the wage-earners who have been at
work only three days a week will re-
reive. notwithstanding the reduction, more
money for each weeks work than they
have earned for several years Then
again, operating these large mills to their
capacity will bring back into employment
many who were laid off because it was
not possible to operate the mills profit
ably il the full number Of employees were
paid the high wages
When this reduction of wages in these
large Utica mills was called to the at
tention OF one of the ablest business men
who has also been prominently associated
in the past with important financial affairs.
he said that 1t is one of the most encourag-
ing of several encouraging evidences that
perhaps the most important of all means
is under way whereby a return to pros
per,ty can be secured, namely: Stabilizing
between the cost of living as it now is
ana the money received in the form of
wages.
Delayed by Labor Attitude.
This man went on to say that the
return of business to normal conditions is |
delayed by the attitude some of the labor |
unions are now taking. This is especially |
true, he said in the building trades and
reduction in these, two industries there
would be revival which would justify |
the re-employment of many wage-erners
are now demanded are out of work
1t is inevitable that sooner or later |
there be a readjustment of wages in all |
some
who are looking ahead are apprehensive |
that unless there be general reduction
OF wages distress will prevail next win |
ter because so large number will be
forced out of employment. That will be |
due to the fact that the unions insist that |
high wages must continue. 1t may be |
that II this apprehended distress does
widely prevail readjustment of wages |
will be compelled.
Wage Readjustment Necessary.
has hoan tbat
of the leaders in the labor unions are |
responsible for the fact that many |
thousand workingmen are now out of en- |
ployment. In both of the industries. |
building and railroad the wages demand |
ed by the labor leaders have entailed the |
throwing out Of employment Of many who |
would be glad to work If they had the
lowered until the cost of labor in the
building trade has been reduced. The
testimony is emphatic, and unanimous
cannot regain reasonable prosperity, no
matter how great the aid furnished by
the government may be until wages are
readjusted.
= In another industry the wage situation
entails serious consequences, that is the |
mining industry. The insistence of some
of the unions. whose members are en- |
ployed In this industry, upon unreason-
ably high wages explains in some measure !
the high cost of coal. 1t also makes
clear why so many miners are out Oh
Labor Must Be Well Paid.
There seems to be no disagreement |
among the leaders in the American in F!
dustries or among the managers of the |
American railroads in the opinion that |
American labor must be well paid.
The attitude Of some of the leaders OF
labor unions at this time puzzles many
business men. For while they oeheVe
that labor should be properly paid ana
employment secured for all who are reaoy
TO work nevertheless leaders in some oi |
the unions, many of them men or IN
telligence, do not seem to realize that
readjustment Of wages is sooner or later |
inevitable and that IL it comes now IL
will be better not only for the wage
earners as a whole, but for the country
than II 1t be delayed.
Germany now has all its labor at WORK
upon a reasonable basis and Is produolns
commodities in such magnitude ana a.
such low cost that 1t is gradually cap
turing some Of the large markets OF the
world. 1t may be difficult for the united
states to regain what 1t is now losing
daily on account of the high cost OF plo-
duction because this high cost is greatly
impairing our ability successfully 10 COM
pete with Germany and other nations IN
the worlds markets. The large oti.s 90
ccrporation IL now spoken of here as
setting an example which will be Wen
worth the while of organized LABOR u
follow in American industries.
Chicago Live Stock.
Chicago, Aug. 12.-Cattle-Recelpts |
sooe: market generally steady: quanty
main; top steers, $1015; bulk beef steers
Il 90 a SO; fat she-stock largely s4'ooW
500; Gamers and cutters, S2:oOW3;oo' .t pu.k
bulls. $450@6.00: good and choice ngne
-, .aI,o. &c 0o6OS 60. heayieS, $4,000 |