Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-05-02
4 Sorry Spectacle

n tTER the expenditure of several billions
OF dollars for the creation of an Amer
1can merchant marine, this country during
the past several months has witnessed the
sorry spectacle Of large proportion of this
shipping being tied up at the wharyes by
reason OF inability to compete in the foreign
carrying trade because OF the high costs of
operation. this burden being due not alone
TO the higher wages paid American seamen,
but to the reflection Of the excessive wage
scales maintained in related industries.
This partial paralysis now threatens to
become complete through a general tie-up,
resulting from the issuance of n strike order
after the conference between representatives
OF the marine workers unions, shpowners
and operators and officials of the United
States Shipping Board had broken up in
disagreement in the effort to come to terms
on proposed wage reductions from wartime
levels. There is always the possibility of
eeyenth-hour developments to avert a strike,
but i'll this case there seems little prospect
OF a favorable issue
The shortsghtcd policy OF labor unions in
general In refusing to agree to wage reduc-
tons, in its aggravaing contribution to the
unemployment situation and consequent re-
tardation of business recovery was forcibly
emphasized in addresses delivered Friday
before the United States Chamber of Com
MERGE by Charles NJ. Schwab and Homer l..
ferguson. admittedly two Of the abest in
drstral leaders and soundest economic
thinkers OF the nation"
After referring to the huge army of nm
employed in this country, and the supreme
Importance to tile workingman as well &C tn
the capitalist, To restore our prosperity. Mr.
Schwab. who has just returned from Eli
rope. expressed admiration for the great
STRIDES Italy. France. Belgium England.
win Germany ahead of them ALL were MAX
i's III proahcliFe activity through the cour-
age and enterprise of these peoples i'm facing
actual conditions OF after he-war economic
depression and uniting to make common
sacrlhceS, both as to wages and profits to
BRING back return to normal Drosperity MS
quickly as possible. Never before he
SAID, was the need for products so great:
never Detore was such valuable producing
machinery and facility lin the United
States) available; never before was there
SO much that needed TO be done; vet we
nave growing army OF unemployed i'm this
country with economic recovery unduly
h"mpered and delayed by reason Of organ
lied labor refusing 10 agree to lowered
wage schedules in the face of greatly de-
creased cost Of living. Railroad costs must
come down." lie said, land il is i'm The in
terests of national prosperity that orr gov
eminent. acting through the Railroad Labor
hoard and every other agency shall reduce
railroad wages and bring costs down to a
living point. The same situation confronts
our merchant marine. In operating build
ing and repairing ships. labor costs are
hopelessly high"
Mr. Ferguson expressed similar views as
tc what is ailing the country He declared
that more than 100000 American work
ers VIII feel the pinch OF unemployment
nhtil wages reach permanently lower
leVel. wage reductions must become gem
eral before the economic depression clears
completely away, he said Labor will he
able to hold some of the gains il achieved
during the war, but 1t must accept the in
eviiable, or suffer from consequences OF the
folly Of stagnating all industry