Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-09-06
LABOR SECRETARY
SAYS buck FEVER"
CAUSES DEPRESSION
DAVIS BlAMEs UNEMPLOYMENT
ON FAINT HEARTS, DOUBTS
AND SuSPi clOUS - BEST
BE- THOUGHTS AND MleHTlEsT EF.
FORTS THE CURE, HE TELLS
DETROIT UNIONS.

Detroit, Sept. 6.-Labor Day dawns
on situation that calls to every loyal
American for the best thought, the
mightiest effort and the strongest
faith he can summon. Secretary OF
Labor James j. Davis said Monday at
Labor Day celebration on Belle Isle
This year Labor Day must be
dedicated first of all to meeting the
imperative human need Of the idle"
said he.
"All over the country strange
hush has fallen. The great American
productive machine. the wonder of the
world. has slowed down.
THE country is sick from overin.
diligence and one and all we have had
TO go on the operating table for the re-
moval OF false values.
Labor Day this year must be the
day to dedicate ourselves to finding
the answer to the question. What will
put us back to health and work and
prosperity again.
"The problem of Unemployment
calls for instant and energetic action.
Cities. counties and states should
start at once making road repairs.
building reservoirs and other public
work.
Much such construction or repair
is in heavy arrears on account of the
interruption of the war and now is
the time to have it done
"A double need will be met. the
public Will he served and the idle are
given tasks to do and money to earn
For lack of courage we are neg
lecting any number of large unde.
takings that would give a mighty a.
shove to the great stalled engine of
American production.
What article. for instance besides
steel enters more intimately into
every process of life than coal? Yet
the situation we have on our hands
is perfect example of that paralysis
of mind and will on the part of us all
which accounts for our paralysis in
business.
Mines are idle and miners with
them because people think the prices
of coal could and may be lower.
Dealers and operators are in sus-
pense because they think that wages
and freight rates should and may be
lower. The railroads are in suspense
because they fear the attitude of EN-
ployes.
And employees. the miners with
them. fear the attitude and suspect
the fairness of employers.
$50 we travel In vicious circle,
and no one has the courage to break
it. The consequence is that coal is
scarce and will be high this Winter
of all Winters, when people should
have their coal at the lowest possible
price.
THE price will never be lower, the
situation Will never be broken until
one or the other party to it has the
American courage to take loss, to
make a move and start the flow Of
coal
For some time the railroads have
been the keylog In the business jam
Like the parties involved in the coal
situation. but on scale that much
more widely and adversely affected
the country, the railroads have been
locked in rigid tangle.
With the allotting of $500, 900, 900
to the railroads. at President Hard
ing's solicitation. one Of the great
central vicious circles at the heart of
the national business will be broken
THE cause il labor is more alive to
day than 1t ever has been In forty
years.
"a few employers have taken this
period when Jobs are scarce and the
workingman is at disadvantage, to
break down their workers organiza-
tions.
1T seems to those people a good
time to even up old scores, to revenge
themselves for the high wages they
where forced to pay year or two
ago, and see to it thot such a wage
scale never obtains again.
THE peril in this speaks for itself
To employers everywhere | would
say. Don't set your wages by the
hungry crowd at the gates. of your
mill"