The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-09-21
IS LIVING WAGE
UNREASONABLE
SECRETARY OF LABOR SAYS
AMERICAN PEOPLE EARN
AND DESERVE MORE
Labor Day Address Delivered At bet.
roit by Secretary Of Labor Davis
Is Heard BY Large Crowd;
Warns Employers

Detroit, Mich.-Dedicatio of Labo,
day, 1921, to the relief of the nations
unemployed was proposed by Secretary
OF Labor Davis Monday in an address
to the workers Of Detroit.
"1n the past, Labor day has been q
holiday in honor of the man who tolls"
declared Secretary Davis. "Ths year
1t is a year that millions Of our people
would rather celebrate, not by taking
a holiday, but by going back to work
at job"
The dedication of the day to the re-
lief of the unemployed, estimated by
tile labor secretary to number NEARLY
six Million" should carry with it, he
said concerted effort on the part
of all Americans, be they employees or
employers" AS means of partial re-
lief, the secretary proposed the under
taking of public works, the distribution
of work in mills SO that all may have
jobs for at least part of the week"
hDONt all we Dccu W Slluhc Oll lcdI
and take on faith and courage" Mr.
Davis asserted. For the lack of that
courage We are neglecting any number
OF large undertakings that would give
mighty shove to the great stalled en-
CINE of American production"
The secretary in his address directed
q message to the employers of the ma.
ton, declaring:
Don't set your wages by the hun
CRY crowd at the gate to your mill.
That is only temporary wage. Dur
Ing the war the pendulum swung over
to the side of the employees. Now it
has swung back to your side. Play
fair now and you Will do more to
stabilize your business and bring good
feeling than anything else you can do.
Keep in mind the fact that those men
who are swarming around your gates
looking for work are the same human
beings as yourself. They have the
same aspirations for their families that
you have for yours. Regulate matters
now for the future and play the part
Of far sighted wisdom
To labor the secretary held out the
assurance that in spite Of the occa-
s!onal 'hardboiled' employer no true
American business man entertains
serious thought OF crushing the work.
mems organizations. Let the open
shop mean what is says-'open to all.
he added.
"Any employer knows that crushing
| the unions cannot be done. In the nrSt
pluce, he knows that it would not be
snfe in any case. We want no Russia
IN this Country, no hordes Of disorgan'
lied. leaderless men, reduced TO sur''
a state of starvation that charity must
60 to their aid"
Opposition tn the nr'NctN'e OF 'ne
living wage also was expressed by MI
! Davis.
Il am against the living wage ne
said. at is not enough. We need TO
hear something of the saving wage IL
| Is not enough for man merely 10 eA'
s'st TO meet the cost of living, what-
ever it is, to pay the rent ana Duy lo'u
and clothing for his family. "A man
like the American workman neeoS' lie
earns, and he demands somefilnS moe
than that. He wants to save ana "e
should be able to do it,
According to the Grand Junction,
Colorado. Sentinel, the Radi"" COM
many of Colorado, one Of tho largesr
ca,nottte operators in the country ana
owner of the Kearns property III br'
valley south of Moab, has ordered the
Immediate resumption Of work 'h
It's holdings with full force, DrF'h@
The past two months tn" crhll'a"S
ras been operating with only an'u'
enc hundred men, considered hait q
crew. The recent orders will result
In the immediate employment OF an
other hundred or more men.