The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-08-01
The Public Bears
The Brunt of Strikes

and bears the cost of strikes, should
support the efforts of the government
to settle the coal and railroad strikes,
and especially encourage the estab-
llshment of an adequate power for
dealing with labor problems in this
field which can command the conf
dence and respect of both Sides" de-
clares the current issue of "The Guar
anty Survey" published today by the
Guaranty Trust Company of New
York.
""Ihere>>is great opportunity in
this situation" "The Survey" contin-
ues, "for leadership in the public in
terest.
with the strikes by transportation
workers, it is quite different, for in
this field we have the machinery for
adjusting labor disputes In the Rail
road Labor Board Although the
board is without enforcing power, the
government cannot afford to permit
protests against its decisions seriously
to impair the transfer of freight and
mails, and indications are that the
strikers only hope to put the carriers
to maximum amount or ANNOYANCE,
delay, and expense without completely
stopping operation. of the railways.
Disputes between employers and op-
eratives in the New England textile
mills are being gradually settled
through the return of the men to work
under reduced wage scales.
"A serious curtailment of produc-
tive industry would, Of course, impose
a heavy economic burden on the coun-
try, which labor, as well as all other
elements, would have to help bear. But
that fact does not seem to be fully
realized by most of the strikers.
Production Nearly Normal.
Notwithstanding the strikes, nota-
BILE improvement occurred throughout
the spring in several important lines.
The fundamental needs of our country
for goods of all kinds are so strong
and our consumption of commodities
is so great that industrial revival has
takn place during the first half of
certainties. These uncertainties, how
ever, relate chiefly to the policies and
future burdens of governments rather
than to money rates, stocks of COM
modities ON har' or the consuming
power of the public, and, therefore, d.
not greatly influence the business sit.
uation at times when buyers are con.
vinced that the prices they must pay
for goods will permit them to make
profitable purchases.
"There has ben pronouncedly in.
creased activity in the production oa
Automobiles and railway equipmnt, in
building, and in production Of all
building materials. This Improvements
has been accompanied by betterment
in many other lines, as is evident
from the unusually large number of
freight cars loaded this spring with
commodities which come under the
merchandise and miscellaneous classi-
fications. Statistics of production
generally show that, in spite of the
dislocation caused by strikes, the vol
ume of production of manufactures
las reached point within 10 per
cent of levels estimated as normal for
the present year.
with the coming of summer the
developing activity has received
slight check due, it seems, more to
seasonal dullness than to the labor
troubles,as the full effects of the
strikes have not yet been felt. This
check has not reached the proportions
of setback and indeed, ther is no
reason to expect major reversal in
the upward trend of the business cy-
Gle unless the labor disputes remain
unsettled for some time. The wants
of the consuming public can hardly
have been satisfied so soon and there
are numerous Indications that foreign
buying of our goods is on the in
crease.
much forward. buying probably
took place before the recent advance
in prices became eqective, and this is
not the season for large commitments
by manufacturers unless prices APP
pear particularly attractive. 1t is,
therefore, doubtful if the general
wholesale price level has yet reached
the point which will check the buying
of those consumers whose wants are
still unsatisfed. Consequently, the
temperance of the major downward
swing of prices, which is indicated by
long time view of affairs, need not
be anticipated Immediately, in spite
of the fact that important reductions
in the prices of several raw materials
and finished products were announced
this month.
influential Factors in Business Situa-
tiOn.
"The strikes require firm and i'm
partial handling by public authorities
in the public interest. Natu, ally, la
Dor finds it just asshard to adjust it
self to the unpleasantness of deflation
as does any other element, but read
g 1. Il 6