Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-04-21
WORK: Why?
The Farmers and the Workers in
Industry

TIL farmers represent the greatest
purchasing power in the United
States, because they are the largest
number of producers, and their pro-
ducts represent the largest value of
production of and group of workers.
In the spring of 1920 they were
selling green calf hides for an ag-
erage of $40 each, and the farmer
was paying from SIS to $50 for a
pair of good boots. In other words
he was exchanging his products on
the basis of n and one-half to two
hides for a pair of boots. When in
the fall of 1920 the price he coula
obtain for his hides fell to so cents
each. he then refused to buy boots
marked at $40 per pair. which was
on the basis of exchanging twenty
hides for one pair of boots. Like
wise corn dropped from $3.50 to As
cents per bushel. hogs s21 per hun
dred weight to SO e hundred
weight, and the farmer was asked
two or three of his TO one of that II
other producers. W.T. was the re
suit? The farmers stopped buying
shoes and clothes and agricultural
implements. and the factories be-
ga. to slow up operations and shut
dow in all parts of the country.
RUSSIA People in Distress
The belief on the part of large
numbers of people that they can
benefit by doing less work and in
creasing the pay, has produced
some of the most distressing spec
tacles In all history. Russia, a vast
country of $4,000 600 people. rich
in good soil and an exceeding y
abundant supply of timber and min
eral wealth. has been putting tbs
belief into practice. Everyone was
to do less work, four hours wol
perday was thought about right. and
everyone received more pay. Less
of everything was produced. except
money. Result: Russian money is
plentiful, but fuel. food, clothins.
shoes, ETC., are exceedingly scarce
and hundreds of thousands of Rus
slams are starving and dying because
the whole Russian people are not
producing enough of the bare ne
cessities to sustain life. They are
trying to do a thing which is fun
damentally and economically im-
possible, to produce less and divide
more. 1t never has and never can
be DONE.
England-A Great Workshop
SLOWLY 10 Dedtn
England is a country of small
area, about the size of the state
of Illinois, with a population OF
IS, 900, 900. Much of the soil is low
grade and unproductive. The coun-
try cannot begin to produce enough
food, wool or leather to feed and
clothe its inhabitants. The princi-
pal national article of export n
coal. Food, wool, cotton. leather,
timber, they import from other
countries. Much of the wool, cotton
and leather which they import IN
the raw state, they manufacture -nto
various things and again ship to
countries which can exchange these
things for food. England is con-
stantly dependent upon other par:s
of the world for food. and in return
offers to exchange coal and the SER
vices of its people for other coun-
tries food and enough wool, cotton
and leather to supply its inhabitants
Fundamentally. therefore, England
countries coal and the services of
its workers in industry for food and
clothing.
While it is true in carrying on
trade and commerce we think II
things in terms of money. we should
not lose sight of the fact that money
Is merely a medium of exchange
and represents a method used by
individuals and countries to ex-
change goods and services with each
othef.
Holding Back individual Production
Now for more than two genera
lions, probably fully 80 per cent OF
the working people of England have
had the idea burned into their very
souls that it is the advantage of each
individual to produce as little as
possible and Fobtain the high
| est possible wages. Ca Canny they
call it in England, which means
holding back on the job and making
It necessary to hire two men to dc
| one mans work. Modern high speed
tools, etc, such as are manufactured
and used in America, cannot be SOLD
in England because the English
workmen will not permit them in
stalled in the shops. Why? Be
cause they would increase produc'
ton and one man with one of these
modern high speed tools could do al
much work as four or five English
workmen, with their present ma
chinery and methods.
Modern coal cutting, loading ant
handling equipment, cannot be uset
in England because it would in
crease production. A less numbei
of coal miners could get out man.
| times as much coal. The tools of the