The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-07-21
WHAT is JUST wAGEsp

1t Is explained that peaceful settlement OF tho
strike In now In sight, that IL tho contending
parties and the government can reach an agree
ment as to Just wages everything can be settled
amlcably. Easy. isn't it7
But what is lust wages conforming to the
rules of the grammatical mechanics. what are
Just wages?
Acedemically considered. that Is all there
ever was is now, ever Will be between the
various contendng parties to this so-callcd
economic controversy All agree offhand that
everybody who works Is entitled to Just wages
But when ono attempts to define that term In
n daily. weekly. monthly or annual Income the
party breaks up In row.
A certain weii-knovn manufacture and oin
ployer OF labor on "A large scale, who has been
touted paying an unusual high WACO TO MS
employees, declares It to be his conviction that
every man who works should receive pay In
exact proportion to HIS contribution to the in
dustry and therefore to society as whole. on
this proposition also the vote Is unanimously
affirmative.
But again the controversy begins over the
exact worth Of tho contribution the various
class OF hands make to the industry and to 30
ciety And when this same manufacturer adds,
"It follows that he or she who for any cause
refuses TO work or contribute anything 10 the
success OF the Industry and the welfare OF
ciety should have the pre-emnent privilege Of
starving to doath.- there is decided negative
vote although the ayes stin prevail
But the present controversy Is going TO be
settled amicably Just soon as all OF the In
volved factors can find an acceptable defini-
ton OF the term, "just wages" that be
written in dollars and cents. And so everybody
Is smoothing out their aprons, drawing long
breaths OF relief and preparing TO thoroughly
enjoy themselves.
Little children there will never he a mutual
agreement between the factors involved IN this
scnscless Insane Industrial dispute as to the
definition OF that term, a fair return in money
for the work faithfully performed. constitutes
definition OF tho term, "just wages" But
what IS = "feir return" Don't you gee?
Russian unlonism started out to take tho fun
objective OF organized labor. An entire po-
litlcal fabric and a great commercial and in
dustrlal system was junked. Not a thing stood
IN the way Of the tabor olgarchy Of Russia and
It's detectives save the mmutable laws OF eco
Monies and human nature. And these whipped
II IN a fortnight; not only whipped a., but con-
vlnced the statomaEcrs Of the olIgarchy Of tho
utter unsoundnoss OF the philosophy, wit
ness their confession through adopting the
principle tcnets OF the system they destroyed.
Did labor realize its ambition 90 attain a
I "Just wager" It did not, Labor in Russia today
under the complete domination OF the union
lists is In the worst state It has ever known, It
IL bondage as degrading as ever existed II
works under ompulson--bayonets and bombs
rosaralcs3 az whothat It wants 10 work or not;
and It works not eight hours but II and a.
and for whatever It's oyerlords elect to pay II.
what are Just wages?"
Solomon never had such perpleXlng problem
to solve. II has baffled the wisest OF the wise
once they set foot outside the zone OF indl.
vidual action. dsregarded the rules of trade ant