Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-04

all of the strikes which have occurred
in recent years have been for the pur-
pose of obtaining higher wages or to
prevent the reduction of existing
wages. In some strikes only issues IN
~volving hours of labor and other WORK
ing conditions have been involved, but,
generally speaking, the strikes nave
been wage strikes.
Since prices of commodities started
TO 90 up with the outbreak of the
European war, especial stress has been
! laid on the elements of the cost OF
living as the principal argument for
wage increases or for retention, rather
than reduction, of established wage
scales. :
This had led to special studies of
the problem of the cost of living, ana
one fact established is that prices haVe
not risen so much as the number OF
! commodities o regarded as necessities
has multiplied. In truth, the prices OF
some staples are substantially lower
than they were years ago. turther,
many commodities are WITHIN the range
Of comparatively low-wased workers
which, because of rarity or hlgh price
were formerly wholly out OF their
reach. The net result of the study Is
that the WnOle question: VI ~
living is relative.
There is scarcely anyone who does
not agree that the people should have
the additional things which they ENJOY
under modern conditions, but there Is
a desire to emphasize that exact com
parisons cannot be made and that TO
saw that the cost of living has IN
creased is not wholly fair. The more
nrecise statement is that the cost OF
modern living has increased.
The first labor union was organized
in the county Of Dorsetshire in Eng
land more than a century ago. Its
founders are known in the lore OF
! organized labor as The Six Men OF
Dorset. They were farm laborers and
they struck for higher wages. me
wages which they received consisted
almost wholly of their food ana iods
ing. A few pence were added IN money
but only enough to buy a little peer
and tobacco. The wage increase 1ot
which they struck was more meat
They were getting meat only on Sun
days. the remainder of their diet con
sisting chiefly of humble porridge and
such vegetarian food. They desired
meat twice or three times a week.
Dealt With Summary
The action of the Six Men of Dorset
was regarded by the British employers
as preposterous and highly dangerous
70 organized society. They were ar
rested, tried and convicted Of conspir.
acy for forming their labor union anc
were transported on the prison shiI
! Success to serve long terms IN the
, penal colony of Van Dieman's Land.
The comparison between the SlS
: Men of Dorset and q modern labor
, union striking for more dollars pei
day or for shorter hours is an extreme
one. but it serves to show how tme'
have changed and how the condition
of men has improved.
= But more immediate comparisons
. particularly with a view to the added
comforts Of life, will be more opposite
Take the single item of ice cream
: Formerly it was altogether a luxury
Today, every urchin on the streets ha'
I an ice cream cone daily and sometimes
I several times a day.
Every American city spends severa
Thousand dollars a day for ice cream
This is an entirely new addition t
, the cost of living, and 1t may b'
Dointed out that it is not fair to cal
: this an increase in the cost of living
| 1t merely is an addition to the cost o
living. If a given city spends S30,OO'
: a day for ice cream, the citizens o.
| that city nave added $4,000 a day t
their cost of living by making this
expenditure. This is an addition, no
an increase, in the cost of living o.
$4,000 a week: S10.920.0 900 a year
: I'VE spend, in addition, $1,00O,0O0
c day for ice, a comparatively modern
: convenience.
Another immediate comparison i
the motion picture show. Two de
cades ago movies were scarce. A fey
were operating, but the universal ad
mission charge was 5 cents. Toda,
the American public spends approx
mately 81, 000, 000, 900 a year on tn
movies. This is SO apiece for ever
man, woman and child in the nation