The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1923-11-13

pOintmcut 10 INC Optiilietss poSsiDit
because production and distribution
have been on a very high level since
last spring. Much depends upoI
what is ones standard OF good and
promising times.
Production, consumption and rail-
road traffic have progressed on a scale
that has been making new records
all summer and the question of
whether this condition will continue
or decline iznnot be answered with
out some discussion OF the factors
in the mixed business situations.
Unfaworzble Factors
The business situation. as is well
known. tends to move in cycles OF
increasing and diminishing activity.
and once a start is made in either
direction the movement tends to
gather impetus. When the corner
has been dehnately turned after
peroid OF depression. stocks are al
ways low and price advances slim
ulate buying. while every worker
whose name is taken from the list
OF the employed and added to a pay
roll signifies more buying power in
the markets. Once the recovery is
fairly under way il goes on until
the structure gets topheavy and un-
balanced. and some disturbance shakes
it down. Once prices are started
downward buyers hold off as long
as they can. and every workman laid
off represents a reduction OF buying
power and lessened demand on the
industries.
The spirit OF aggrcssiveness and
confidence that was lost last Spring
has not been regained. and the pres
ent situation is in large part psy-
Geological People are moved to act
upon one policy or another by what
they think. and the effect of their
actions is the same whether their
thinking is we'll ordered or not. The
state of business is largely what the
stSte jof confidence and enterprise
makes it. and as already said. this
state of mind is infectious; il most
people think business is going to be
poor it probably will not be very
good.
Industrial Cost
ss 20 h.
situation is altogether the result OF
misguided thinking. There are un-
satisfactory conditions.
The industrial situation. as we have
pointed out frequently. is not we'll
balanced. portions OF the population
having succeeded in holding OF fore
ing up their compensation at the ex-
pense of others. thus lessening
by the latter. The abb
normal situation as to construction
work has minimized the effect OF these
relations for the time be-
ng. but they are an element OF weak
less. The policy OF the labor or
ganizations in forcing wages upward
Il every opportunity. and then re- :
using to make concessions when ;
adjustments are necessary, is great /
andicap to industry. II deprives it r
4 the Aexibiity that is required to q
maintain balanced relations. The :
organizations is a great CO. c
perativc organization. made up of d
iany factors. independent in degree, O
ct dependent upon each other The c
forts to control wages and prices a
has An effect like that I
hich would result from binding the n
rms OF person attenmting to walk o
ight-rope. The labor policy is to p
low industry to shut down rather (,
ian make concessions. and the effect D
to create scarcity of goods until Il
temporary and limited demand is p
Gated at high cost most of which al
paid by the wage carners them W
Ives, followed by another period of
and partial employment la
puts the business organizations h;
der strain, and produces spasmodic &C
nditions. 1t is right and to be ex- &C
cted that wage-earners shall have &C
voice in fixing wages, and it is not
itself a serious matter that wage tn
rners are quick to demand higher ur
ges when conditions are such that sit
y can be paid. The free play OF the wi
OF supply and demand may be do
IDLY accepted. The harmful thing th'
the refusal to allow that free lay
en- adjustments downward are
'essary for the good industry. 30,
The Question of q Fair Wage -
During the period of government, an,
ration OF the railroads. the shop on,
rk basis. were changed to a time IND
is. and the cost OF their work ell
Y much increased thereby yyL.n