The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-07-07

nance OF Way workers ant we
were told that we ought to ue sat
isfed as there had been rate
cut on the railroads. We were told
after the World War that indus
| try would be sure to thrive and
prosper if we accepted Il wage cut.
So every industrial group was I'M
pressed with the statement that
wages must be cut so as to insure
prosperity and return to normal
cy. We accepted the first wage
cut, and the second. and the third
and the fourth, until we learned
the fallacy of the theory that this
was necessary for a return Of the
country to prosperity. We found
that some industries had accept
ed three and four wage cuts but
that it did not stimulate business
in that industry. So we decided
that the claims that wages must
be cut to stimulate business was
not true.
1t does not help industry to cut
wages. 1t means that every dollar
taken from the pay envelope of
the workers is a dollar less for
the merchant, the property holder
and the professional man. 1t
seems strange that if cheap labor
makes a good community that the
Asiatic countries are not the most
happy and prosperous of the
world. If it was true that cheap
labor made for industrial success
then China would be the most
prosperous country in the world.
Where the best wages are paid
you will find the best communities.
But it was not a wage cut that
| determined US on this strike. There
is another side that is of vital con-
Germ to the public. We knew that
every decision of the Labor board
that was acceptable to the rail
road managers was Immediately
put into effect but if the decision
was against the railroad manag-
ers they did as they pleased about
acting on the part of the railroads
to fiount their independence before
the Labor board. The Pennsyl-
vania railroad refused 20 rccog-
nize any committees of workers
and said they would conduct their
business without any reference to
the wishes or demands of THEN
employees. They said that all who
did not wis hto work under such
| conditions should get out. Then
the men began to realize that they
could depend upon no organization
but their own unions to defend
their rights.
| am sorry that our confidence
in the high executive officers in
this nation are all but shattered.
"The confidence of the workers
in the government officials is at {
low ebb," said Mrs. Fechner. On
every hand, he minated, people
see instances of the unfailncss OF
men in high political positions.
Without mincing his words, but
simultaneously with a fairness OF
manner and speech, Mr. Fechnel
scathingly derided the laissez-fairc
attitude of President Harding In
a Boston newspaper last Sunday
Nh Fechner said, we're two stories
displayed with equal prominence
on the front page.
On story related to the strike
situation and to conditions in va
rious parts of the country with
statements from the railroad man
ayers, and from the representative
of the shopmen. The other story
likewise set forth in box car let
tiers, was captioned. "PreSidcnt
Harding Pleads for Life of bog
Prolonged applause indicated the
feeling of the attentive audience
at this point.
This instance, Mr.. Fechnor said
was highly Indicative Of every
move of the President. The chief
executive can utter beautiful plat
itudes, the speaker declared, but
|