Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1924-01-25

with the view that labor is Soldier
ing" on the job and it quotes with
approval the following from one of
its own writer's who uses the name of
"Scrutator:"
Physical production in this coun-
try is increasing at rate that justi-
fies most of the wage levels. which
were considered abnormal in the pots
armistice boom. Labor is producing
more, and is entitled to consume more,
and sure is consuming. Average
production of basic industries, in
GLIDING agriculture, was % per cent
greater in the first seven months of
this year than in the same period of
1919, while various employment tables
| and indexes seem to show that some
thing like 3 per cent fewer workers
are responsible for this output"
The Tribunes advertisements are
designed to convey to the business
world its Interpretation of business
conditions. The advertisements de-
clare that Business is as good as we
make it" and asserts that unfounded
fear is at the back of many business
troubles. One of these unfounded
fears is the bugabeo of high wages,
which the Tribune knocks out in the
following reply to chronic pessi-
mist:
"Mr. Lugubrious Blue: Yes, my
firm is making money and so are
most of the companies | am familiar
Without conditions are not sound.
Look at labor. 1t is drawing out
rageous wages. 1t must be debated.
Until we get back to the good old
pre-war levels we can't have really
enduring prosperity
"These doleful laments do not come
from the political demagogues who
want the wheat gambler subsidized.
The farmers friends demand higher
prices for grain and lower freight
rates but they also insist on higher
wages--certainly
"The man who glooms because
wages are high is occasionally the
hard-hearted business mantle man.
ufacturer.
But who buys his pruodcts? The
Millionaire jobber or department
store owner with whom his biggest
contract is made?
mo, Directly or indirectly, his ulti-
mate consumer is the wage Garner.
OF the total volume of merchandise
are rich consume but little. Our
whole structure of farms and factor
les depends upon the power of the
masses to buy.
China and Japan have hundreds of
millions of workers Jealous to labor
| long hours for a few cents a day.
Have these nations prosperity?
but let us not thing that our high
wages are a cause of our prosperity.
They are n mere symbol of our pro-
ductivity, which is the real cause.
The money in circulation per capita
in the U. S. has increased from SIS
in 1898 to $50 in 1922. But the per
capita wealth of the country is seven
ty times as great as the money in
circulation.
Wages are high because there is
work for everyone. The great Ameri-
can people-intelligent, trained, in
spired by peace and free institutions,
equipped with scientific mastery of
! the forces of nature, drawing upon
the inestimable resources of a CONT
nent-the great American people is
at work. 1t is growing things, max
ing things, building things. High
wages of war times were unhealthy,
for they were due to the absence of
millions of men at war and to the
manufacture of useless tools of de-
struction. High wages of today, on
the other hand are due to the fact
that this nation is producing foods,
clothing, automobiles, movies, furni-
ture, books, houses, fuel-all the ma
terial comforts of life-in a volume
never before approached by any SIM
liar body of people.
Since more of everything is being
produced 1t is natural that everyone
should have more of everything. And
through the medium of higher wages
or profits or fees or rents this distri-
button is being accomplished. Prac-
tieally every American is today en-
loying more comforts, eonveniences,
entertainment, better food. clothing,
recreation, than his father ever did
in the good old days before the war.
.
High wages mean that the masses
are going to buy grapefruit and
grand pianos, fur coats and sedans,
travel and bonds, washing machines
and beauty preparations"