The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1923-05-11
Industry and Trade.

-
industrial activity. Apparently I'll
edge is off the demand, or buyers hav
satisfied their wants for the present
but the relaxation OF interest is no
interpreted as signifying any falling OF
OF consumption or real weakness in In
situation. Production in the principa
lines is at very high rate. and meas
urably meeting requirements, while
the numerous warnings that have beer
sounded against the danger of rapis
price advances may have had some in
fiuence in tempering the zest OF buy
crs.
Manufacturers are disposed to alb.
sorb increasing costs without advanc.
ing prices. so far as increasing profits
arising from full operations enable
them to do SO. Anxiety is felt every
where as to the effect OF rising prices
upon consumption Manufacturing
profits in the principal industries. how
ever, have been small since raw ma
terials began to advance, and most of
the wage increases now being made
must be eventually reflected in prices
Wage Situation.
The rise OF industrial costs, as is
manifested in advancing wages, has
been the chief cause of apprehension.
and no doubt has been mainly respon-
sible for the spirit OF hesitation shown
in the markets. The indications are
that the country has a smaller supply
OF manual laborers than it had in 1920.
When any suggestion is made that the
immigration law should be modified
to permit some OF the unemployed of
Europe to come here and have work,
II seems to be assumed that the only
question involved is that OF wages, and
that this is altogether a matter be-
tween employers and employees. There
is more involved. High prices may
be counted upon to increase the sup
ply of any pdouct which can be read
lily produced, but high wages will not
increase the supply of laborers in the
United States when a bar exists
against immigration. The work in de-
mand will not be done. 1t is true that
wages may be raised to point
where they will be attracted from the
farms. but that will mean higher liv-
ing costs for the entire population.
The country should understand what
the present immigration policy means.
and not imagine that nobody will be i,
affected but the employers who give 4,
the warning. The coal operators. &c Is
ment and steel manufacturers and 9TH
rr employers can afford to raise their :.
wages as long as consumers can afford i,
10 buy the products; il will be only as \
buying falls off that the employers will =
DC injured, and this will signify that in
iustry is slowing down, production d.
and everybody being in "
ured. y
A Competitive Situation c,
a state of sharp competition exists in
mong the industries for labor. With c,
ne modern investment in equipment d;
Is OF great importance in economical ST
reduction to operate as nearly to ca p,
acity as possible. The competition A
DR. labor is not simply between en- m
ioyers in the same lines of industries. d,
ne several branches of industries are b:
ompeting with each other. 1t is as pc
repressible competition, so long as ab
portage OF labor exists and until the TO
which can afford to bid of
ghest are fully supplied. The iron tn
I'd steel companies raised wages by M
per cent last September, not to mi
'ert strike, but to hold and increase tn
cir labor supply. Since then in
eases have been going on in other 10
les and on the 10th of last month 10
eyes IN the steel industry were again ~
vanced, so that the lowest paid la 10
" now receives $500 per day. Other lo-
les are promptly coming to the same 49,
'ei' and in some instances had al
ady set the mark. The packing in wa
stry has restored the reduction SO sar
infully obtained two years ago. In
textile sndustries OF New England.
lere wages were advanced by about for
per cent in the war boom, a cut OF ten
q per cent was made in December. lus
-. From that level an increase of A
q per cent has now been agreed up- ter
In the clothing industry, where sus
y large increases were made in duo
time from which moderate reduc- lin
MS have since been made, increases 600
e now been granted. restoring the this
ses either to the war level or nea. wo
Agitation is developing among the for
road employees and upon some Of wa.
roads wage increases have recent less
been granted These lines OF in per
try are not related, and there is tina
c likelihood of labor shifting be- Ger,