The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-09-04

Nearly all Of the strikes whicn
have occurred in recent years have
been. for the purpose of obtaining
higher wages or to prevent the re-
duction of exising wages. In some
strikes only issues Involving hours
of labor and other working condi-
tons have been involved. but. gen.
orally speaking. the strikes have
been wage strikes.
Since prices of commodities
started to go up with the outbreak
of the European war, especial
stress has ben laid on the elements
Of the cost of living as the princi-
pal argument for wage increases
or for retention, rather than reduc-
ton, of established wage scales.
This has led to special studies
Of the problem of the cost Of living,
and one fact established is that
prices haye not risen SO much as
the number of commodities regard
ed as necessities has multiplied. In
truth. the prices Of some staples
! are substantially lower than they
were years ago. Further, many
commodities are within the range
of comparatively low-waged work
ers, which, because of rarity or
high price, we're formerly wholly
out of their reach. The net result
of the study is that the whole ques-
ton of the cost of living is relative.
There is scarcely anyone who
does not agree that the people
should have the additional things
they enjoy under modern con-
diuons, but there is desire to
emphasize that exact comparisons
cannot be made and that to say
that the cost Of living has increas-
ed is not wholly fair. The more
precise statement is that the cost
Of modern living has increased.
The first labor union was organ
lied in the county of Borsetshire in
England more than a century ago
Its founders are known in the lore
Of organized labor as the Six Mer
Of Dorset. They were farm labor
ers and they struck for higher
wages. The wages which they re
ceived consisted almost wholly o.
their food and lodging. A few
pence were added in money bu
only enough to buy a little beel
and tobacco. The wage increase
for which they struck was NOR,
meat. They were getting mea
only on Sundays, the remainder O
their diet consisting chiefly o
humble porridge and such vege
tartan food. They desired mea
twice oUthree times a week.
Dealt With Summary.
The action of the Six Men 0
Dorset was regarded by the Brit
ish employers as preposterous an,
highly dangerous to organized so
ciety. They were arrested, trie,
and convicted Of conspiracy TO
forming their labor union and wer
transported on the prison ship Sue
cess to serve long terms in tn
penal colony of Van Dieman's land
The comparison between the ST.
Men of Dorset and a modern labo
union striking for more dollars pc
day or for shorter hours is an ex
IRENE one, but it serves to shov
how times have changed and how
the condition of men has improved
, But more immediate compari
/ sons, particularly with a view t
, the added comforts. of life, will b
more opposite. Take the singl
item of ice cream. Formerly it wa
altogether a luxury. Today, ever
urchin on the streets has an ic
cream cone daily and sometime
several times a day.
Every American city spends sew
eral thousand dollars day for ic
cream. This is an entirely ne'
addition to the cost of living, an
: it may be pointed out that it is nc
4 fair to call this an increase in tn
r cost of living. 1t merely is an al
dition to the cost of living. If
4 given city spends 100000 day fo
: ice cream, the citizens of that cit
4 have added $4,000 a day to thei
: cost of living by making this e,
:, penditure. This is an addition, NJ
:, an increase, in the cost of livin
s year. We spend. in addition
: 81 100000 day for ice, a compal
: atively modern convenience.
e Another immediate compariso
o is the motion picture show. Tw
decades ago movies were scare
t A few were operating but the un
e. versal admission charge was