Amerikai Magyar hirlap = American Magyar journal. [volume] (Youngstown, Ohio) 1911-1942, 1922-06-29

thing as much as spending it is saving.
To reward him saving wage is no
more than a just credit to the trait |
which has made him the greatest pro-
ducer, the greatest. buyer, in the
greatest market known to the world.
Let there be no doubt as to the
American workmans ability and pro-
pensity to save. For two years we
have been weathering an economic
storm. Those of us who observe and
think must have been astonished that
there has been SO little distress among
our workers during all this slack bust
ness and scanty employment. This
is not matter of observation only.
The records in the U. S. Bureau Of
Labor Statistics show that the Amer
lean workman has given an astound-
ing account of himself in the payment
of his bills through all the severity of
this slack period. During the war
the same worker was set down as a
madcap buyer Of silk shirts and fur
coats. His behavior since the war
proves beyond doubt that while he
may have spent a. little more freely
than was his wont, he. was saving.
We heard little of distress during this
slack period because the workmen has
been able to finance himself. out of
what he has saved.
This is one more reason why | feel
sure that the saving wage must
now for good and all take the place
of the old meaningless living wage.
AS a definition the saving wage is,
l am aware, a.. very indefinite term,
There are Americans of every degree
who would never save penny al
though their yearly incomes might
amount to the thousands. There are
other Americans who on very mod
crate recompense even on pittance,
would contrive to save some little res
idue. Just what constitutes the av-
erage saving wage for all we need not
stop to figure. The spendthrift among
us is after all the exception. We hear
more about him because he is spectac-
ular. The saver goes about his busi-
ness without creating news. But /
am convinced that he constitutes very
largely the majority of our people.
And that average saver, and society
awakened to his new and legitimate
| demands, will somehow reach a bal
ance between them asto what in the
long run constitutes a general saving
wage
This is no new thing. For some
time the most forward looking of our
employers have been paying the saw
ing wage as matter of course, per-
haps without knowing it. My conten-
employers have been doing must be-
sion is that what these enlightened
come general. Sooner or later all the
rest will have to catch up to them.
believe public opinion will compel it.
Without our knowing it, great social
/
out among us, and prominent in this
evolution is the workers demand for
his share in the larger benefits Of this
new day. He is no longer a mere
worker at bench, an automaton. His
intelligence has been expanded by new
and rapid experiences. His tastes
have been heightened along with the
increase in his intelligence. He too
has risen to the enjoyment of books
of pictures, music, the theater, a
chance at the higher education, to
cite but few of his new demands
in other words the newly enlightened
Workingman has risen to a new place
as a human being and as member
of our rich community. Conscious OF
having taken that place, he is now en-
titled to insist upon enjoying all the
advantages Of it. Nor should we OBJ
ject to this, for it means the perma-
nent enrichment Of us all, in that the
advancement of human society is al
ways to be measured by the advance
ment of the worker himself.
The social consequences of the sa /.
ing wage may be left to another time
For the present it is importantfto con.
slider it's effect on our business life.
know that if we bring millions of wor.
kers under the uplifting effect of this
large enjoyment in life there is nc
measuring the new spirit and energy
and even genius that we may be un
shackling and bringing as stimulan
and contribution to our national prog
ress. AS quickening to our business
prosperity the saving wage will NEAR
even more.
When | first broached the idea il
J, writings and speeches it was hailet
in the press with great variety o.
opinion. In the main it was approved
but it seemed rather largely Utopian
/ The press commentators overlooke'
, the fact that the saving wage is al
/ ready good principle in actual prac
tice. They have nothing to say of th