The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-04-14
CAN NNLure M WADE nlcID7

'ha association of railway executives calls
attention 40 tho embarrassment ln which rail-
way managers nnd themselves NJ o result of
me demand made uppu them 10 maintain
wages rIgdly while 900 othor clements ~ tho
transportation problem are noxb|o.
Ono need not bc on executive ot % trluapor-
tetlon systom 90 appreciate tho difficulties or
sJGh n condition. Nor yet need ono Doe a mom-
bcr of tho railway labor union to appreciate The
permissible wish Of mon thus employed 10
mantain wage absolutely rigid so pr 0s
danger ~ reduction i7 concerned
But tho application NJ reason plus experience
revcalg 10 any man tho unacceptable conclusion
ma such a thing as rigid values Is impossible.
Rnd would he very unsatisfactory n - wcro
possible Every phase of an industry Is sub
jeot to change and must always ho subject to
change. Space IS not available here to explain
Why this Is 80, but tho thought having been sug-
rcstcd n moments logical examination will dis
close the truth.
Tho wish OF tho railway operatives TO main
tain a high wage scale Is IN no sense different
from tho wish Of the farmer and stock raiser
20 realize n fixed prIco for their products. And
one is as possible as tho other perhaps We
should say one r. as illogical as tho other. Hc-
cause neither hope can ever be realized. II tho
government should ever embark upon the
f1tuous sea ot prlce-fIxng, some very well
iutentioned men are constantly urging II 10 DO
the speedy effect would be disaster Nothing 40
seriously disturbed values ~ the adventure Of
the government in the price. fixing field dur
ing the war. We now know beyond question
that In this respect the government either went
too far or did not 10 far enough.
The necessities OF the country, ana by coun-
try we mean its every element, including Iaborcr.
farmer. stockman. merchant professional man
and consumer. calls for reduction IN rail-
road freight rates. For tho very substantial
ana unacceptable reason that the purchasing
market Is such-controllod by dcmand-that
products cannot bo shipped any considerable
distance without carrying charges absorbing
the selling price and leaving no margin OF profit
whatever.
Freight rates must bo flexible to an extent at
least; so flexible that they will bear reduction
90 keep pace with dropping commodity prices
Unless this is 80 then tho gross tonnage moved
wall continue to fan of at that very time when
tue interests Of tho transportation concerns
Quire that Il he increased. That Is present
difficulty, Yet tho transportation concerns
cannot reduce their rates unless other elements
OF operations are flexible enough 10 permit tho
reduction TO be spread over all.
II freight ratcs were reduced and commodity
shipments Increased. as they would, railway
operatives would benefit proportlonotcly--euf-
f,centy to offset tho reduction In wages. This
Is what all human experience teaches. It IL an
immutable law And untl immutable laws are
recognized and respected 10y wage earners NJ
we'll as capitalists tho country can make no
apprecablo progress towards that rcaligumcnt
% It's commercial and industrial system which
must he made before we can face tho future
confidently.