The Washington times., 1922-09-11
STRIKERS PILLORY DAUGHERTY
Theory a Country Can Benefit
From Reduction of Wages
Is a Mistake, Says MIR. Hearst

depend upon the orders from the shops,
and that the orders from the shops depend
upon the prosperity and the patronage OF
those shops, which are in turn dependent
upon the prosperity Of the wage Garner,
the greatest individual element in the whole
nation?
The conditions of prosperity are very
economic house that Jack built and the
foundation Of the house is the welfare Of
the worker, based on good wages and con-
sequent high purchasing power.
Therefore, when the mine owners and
railroad owners demanded q reduction Of
wages without absolute necessity, they com.
mitted fundamental economic error. When
the Railroad Labor Board authorized q
reduction they sanctioned. q blow not only
at the welfare of the workers, but at the
general welfare Of all business and at the
prosperity Of the country.
OF course, the workers would not tolerate
this reduction in wages, wholly unnecessary
and unjustifiable at this time; and whether
moved by selfish considerations or not,
they were performing patriotic service In
no. tolerating it.
The plain truth of the matter is that
any management of any business which
cannot succeed and still pay good wages Is
not only inefficient, but un-American; be-
cause good wages for good work not only
is-but is recognized to be-a fundamental
American proposition.
Most of our American business men are
able to conduct their businesses success
fully and pay high wages; and they con-
duct their business successfully, not in
spite of the high wages, but on account of
the high wages-because success is q COM
bination Of efficient management and
efficient labor
The proof that reduction in wages was in
no way necessary at this time in the coal
mines and on the railroads is shown in the
fact that great industries like the steel
trust under the skillful management Of
Ebert H. Gary, were raising their wages
twenty per cent at the time that these
mining and railroad industries were attempt
ing to reduce wages-and is further shown
in the fact that the coal operators have
finally put their men back to work at the
old wage, and can, and will, not only con.
duct their businesses successfully with
wages at that standard, but profiteer very
handsomely in addition.
The railroads must not only eventually
pay the previously established wage, which
they attempted to reduce but will prob.
ably soon have to pay an added wage.
The demand for labor Is increasing
throughout the nation. Wages will increase
in proportion, and the opportunity to take
advantage Of the necessities of the work.
ingman will not exist, even for those who
short-sightedly desire to take such ad-
vantage.
The fundamental mistake, therefore.
which has precipitated all the injury of
these strikes and these interruptions of the
business Of the country, and those burdens
upon business and upon individual citizens
which will endure as long as the limitations
on fuel and transportation endure, was
made by the coal operators and the rail.
road managers when they unjustifiably
demanded lower wages, and by the Railroad
Labor Board, which sanctioned this unius
tifiable demand.
Perhaps these mistakes may not be made
SO often when 1t is thoroughly realized how
important high wages and high standard
of living and high purchasing power are,
not only to the general prosperity of the
nation, but to the prosperity of every indi
vidual business-to my business and to your
business and to every business and pro
fession and occupation throughout the
whole country.