The Connecticut labor news., 1922-06-30
DO RAILROADS SEEK TO CHECK ADVANCE
 OF GREAT REVIVAL?
Goading of Workers Seems to Imply They Prefer Stagnation to
 Prosperity.

America is on the eve of a great in dustrial revival, it's business experts declare.
 The columns of the. newspapers daily record signs that seem to war rant the opinion that unless the un- expected happens the nation IS in Tor period of prosperity that will tax it's productive and transportation capacities to the limit.
 All authoriteis agree that the cost of living IS swinging upward again.
 Under the circumstances, why are the railroads inviting a nationwide industrial conflict by insisting on an unreasonable reduction in the work ers' wages?
 Is it possible that they prefer busi- ness stagnation to prosperity? Have they neglected their equipment to the for normal business and are seeking an alibi?
 Warns Against Prohteering. Improvement in general business conditions has become so pronounced that Comptroller of the Currency Crissinger, in an address made at Augusta, Me, felt impelled to sound a warning against any general effort to boost the prices of the necessities of life
 Harden Colfax, a writer on econ omic subjects for number of inn portant newspapers, declares that "prosperity is coming back with a rush and is sending living costs up- ward"
 Food, fuel, clothing, furniture, building materials, and manufactured articles generally" says Colfax in a recent review, "'are reported up in price, both wholesale and retail, from one to five per cent, this month over the figures six weeks ago" Among other evidences of better times ahead noted by Colfax are a stifening demand for workers at bet ter wages and an increase in car loadings.
 Car Loadings Increase.
 The weeks car leading figures fur rsh a distinct surprise,' he says 'I-oadings, had risen to a total of S2I,- 900 cars on the 200 chief roads of the country during the week ended May P, and it was thought the following week would show decidedly lower average figure. Because of the Mem orial Day holiday the total loadings were less, being but 75o,645 cars, but the average per day was up almost 10 per cent, being I5o,ooo cars a day as compared with 137,ooo during the week of May 27."
 Of sima1r significance is the state nent of w. J. Tollerton, president of the American Railway Association, tIaat the railroads of the country are coming into a business revival which will tax their present equipment This observation, he says, is made after a careful study of industrial conditoins
 A special correspondent for the Washington Star, writing from Cleve- land, O., quotes the head of the state employment bureau there as having stated that "business has recovered to such an extent that the unemploy- ment from which the city suffered during the readjustment period has passed into history"
 Labor Shortage Reported.
 Cleveland reports a distinct short age of unskilled hands and better wages are being demanded. Recently an effort to employ 200 men at 40 cents per hour ended in utter failure.
 Reports from other industrial cen ters are equally encouraging.
 The evidence, then, so far as it is to be gained from the columns of the newspapers, is all to the effect that business is decidedly on the up- grade. Markets are bouyant, and de- mands for goods are increasing, as Is reflected in a generally higher range of prices quoted.
 Unemployment is undoubtedly less factor than it has been for eight months. In some sections the de- mand for labor exceeds the available supply.
 Yet, in spite of this optimistic news, the railroads apparently are out on premeditated campaign of willful de- struction of the nations hopes.