The Washington times., 1924-10-30
LABOR POLICY IS
OUTLINED BY
SEC. DAVIS
Cabinet Officer Ascribes High
U. s. Standards to Pro-
tective Tariff
(cOntinusd from First Page)

NAOhSAASA AEuAh FIRST 1dASd
times I think the children of the
wage Garner have a better chance
10 succeed In this country than any
other children. President Coolidge
has just pointed out that for the
month of August, an American con.
corn having plants in this country
and in Europe which are Identical
and turn out the same products,
paid an average eight-hour day wage
per man as follows: Italy. 36 cents;
Belgium, $1.1S; France, S1.36; Ger.
many. $1.46: England, 32.2S: but in
the United tSates. $3.50. The Arncri.
can workman received almost two
AMI one-half times the highest Eu-
ropean wage, and nearly six Zines
the lowest. European wage.
Gives Tariff Credit.
It seems to me that the American
wage Garner ought to find out what
there is in the policy Of the Anneri-
can government that makes him so
much better off here than he is
abroad; that gives his children more
and more schooling, and q chance
to rise to every position of great
ness. Then the American workman
ought to cast his vote. so ~ 10
make certain a Continuation otthese
conditions.
America is a great industrial
country. To a great extent in
dustry determines the wages and
life Of the workman. If industry
Is good, he will be prosperous. II
its Is bad he win be out of employ
ment. The cost Of transporting
merchandise across the ocean is
very little. So the question at
cnce arises, how can we prevent
the foreign plant, with its low
wages and low costs, sending so
much merchandise here that our
own plants win close down and our
own workmen be out of employ
ment?
No one has ever found but one
answer to this question. and that
is the protective tariff system.
Turn and twist as we may, with.
out that the American wage Garner
will be constantly on the down
grade toward the destitute condition
you will be told, this makes your
SOSJ VI lNAHS nABACLs WhAs VIZ
facts show? Since 1913 the cost Of
living is about SO per cent higher
the rate of wages in the unlonized
trades is 80 per cent higher.
The Republican party has en-
acted and proposes to retain an
adequate protective tariff. The
other parties are against this
policy. You can take your choice
But the wage earners Of this
country, must be protected not only
against the importation Of foreign
merchandise, but also the i'm
portance OF foreign labor. Condl'
tons abroad have been 90 left by
the war that without restriction
our country would be flooded with
great influx of foreign people.
we should have two men looking
for the man, as is the present case,
we shuld have two men looking
for every job. This would mean a
lot Of unemployment and suffering,
certainly to be followed by a de
crease Of wages. For the first
time in our history, the Republican
party enacted law making a gen.
eral restriction of immigration.
without this law also, American
workmen would be headed in the
direction of foreign wages and
foreign standards Of living. 'E
Eliminated 12.Hour Day
This Administration has substan-
TALLY eliminated the twelve.hour
day and the seven-day week in the
industries, so that the last great
barrier toward the eight-hour day
and the six-day week has been
broken down.
Another great service rendered
to the cause Of the wage Garner
is the absolute refusal of this
Administration to permit the In.
fluence of the Government or the
Federal Reserve system to be used
for the purpose of defIation Of
wages. 1t constantly insisted that
the economic law OF supply and
demand should be given fun play,
and that nothing should be done by
the Government to produce a re.
duction of wages, but that every.
thing should be done to encourage
business that there might be abun.
dant employment at q good rate OF
pay.
We favor the principle Of col.
lective bargaining, while opposing
compulsory arbitration. The Presi.
dent suggested in his message that
If the managers and employees OF
the railroads would agree on q
modification of the present rail.
way labor act, It might be changed
accordingly. But in this field OF
transportation, Of course, the pub