Evening star., 1924-09-01
COOLIDGE POINTS OUT
LABOR GAINS IN AMERICA

is now. in terms of money. only 60
per cent above the level Of 1913. That
is. the increase in wages has far out
run the advance in the cost Of living.
Real wages, as determined by the
things that money wages will buy,
are higher today than ever before in
our history.
Companion OF Wages.
A moment ago 1 said that the Amer
lean workman is now not only better
paid than he ever was before but
better paid than any other workman
in the worlds history. / want to give
one or two illustrations to show his
advantage over wage earners of
other countries. Some very recent
figures have made it possible to com
pare British and American earnings.
They show that the average ritish
cotton mill worker earned $7.S5 per
week in June this year, while the
average American cotton mill worker
earned $14.95. The British woolen
mill operative earned 1886 per week:
the American, $26.21. The British
potter earned 1894. compared to the
American potter's $3.50.
But once more we must inquire
about the comparative buying power
fore we can be assured that the actual
earnings of the American are higher
than those of the British wage Garner.
1t happens that the British govern
ment has made study of wages and
living costs in the principal cities of
several countries as of 1928. 1t was
found that a bricklayer in Madrid re-
ceived a wage which buys only SO
per cent as much AS the London
bricklayer can buy with his wage.
The Vienna bricklayer has a wage
whose purchasing power is 81 per
cent of that of the London brick
layer. The Berlin bricklayer's wage
has 81 per cent of the buying power
of the London bricklayer: while the
Paris bricklayers wage will purchase
II per cent as much as will the wage
of the London bricklayer.
Comparison with U. s.
These figures show that the British
workingman is easily the aristocrat
of Europe. He earns much higher
wages, measured in. buying power,
than any workingman on the contin-
ent. And yet, this same British au-
thority shows that the New York
bricklayer earns wage whose ef
fective buying power is two and
three-fourths times that Of the Lon
don bricklayer.
In other trades and occupations
the comparisons lead to similar con-
clusions. Wherever you turn, the
statistics of wages and living costs
show that the American wage-earn-
er enjoys a buying power enormously
greater than that of any other wage
Garner in the world.
We do not need to import any
foreign economis ideas or any foreign
government We had better stick to
the American brand of government,
the American brand OF equality, and
the American brand of wages.
America had better stay American.
Chance for Education.
These are some of the material re-
suits of present American policies. We
have enacted many laws to protect
the health of those who are employed
in the industries. Especial efforts
have been made in this direction in
behalf Of women and children. We
are attempting at the present time to
secure a constitutional amendment
giving Congress jurisdiction over
child labor The efforts Of the States
and Nationa to provide and en-
courage education have been such
that it is fair to claim that
any youth, no matter hom humble
his circumstances can, unaided, secure
of his own efforts. We have achieved
an equality of opportunity which has
opened up the Avenues of a more
abundant life to all the people.
There are two sides to every bar
gain. 1t is not only human nature,
but necessary to progress. that each
side should desire to secure a good
| trade. This is the case in contracts
for employment. In order to give
oarparS hla adva n
their right has been established to
organize, to bargain collectively and
to negotiate through their own chosen
agents. The principle also of volun-
tary arbitration has come to exist al
most as a right. Compulsory arbi-
tration has sometimes been proposed,
but to my mind it cannot be recon-
ciled with the right Of individual
freedom. Along with the right to or
ganize goes the right to strike, which
is recognized in all private employ
ment. The establishment Of all these
principles has no doubt been pro-
ductive of industrial peace, which we
are at the present time enjoying to
a most unusual degree. This has been
brought about by the general recog-
milton that on the whole labor lead
ers are square, and on the whole en-
ployers intend to be fair. When this
is the case, mutual conference is the
best method of adjusting differences
in private industry. OF course, en-
ployment affecting public safety or
public necessity is not private en-
ployment and requires somewhat diff
ferent treatment. In this field we
have been making an interesting ex-
pertinent in relation to railroad labor
This has no doubt been a step in ad-
vance. 1t could probably be modified,
through mutual agreement, to the
benefit of all concerned.
Soon after the close of the war
the policy of dehation was adopted,
which no doubt some thought might
be used to secure a reduction in
wages and the dissolution of labor
organizations. This administration
refused to lend itself to any such
icy, which it has steadily pursued,
of helpfulness to business, indus
try and labor. The Federal Reserve
System has constantly reduced dis
count rates, business has revived and
the millions who were without en-
ployment have found plenty Of work
at an increasing rate of wages. It
Is my belief that this policy repre-
,, sents one of the most important and
helpful services on the part of the
United States Government which was
ever performed IOf the DenenC or the
wage earners of this Nation. When
almost everything else went crashing
| down, a change of front took place
in time to save them from almost
certain destruction.
Labor In Capital.
AS a result Of all these fortunate
circumstances, organized labor is
fast becoming one of the powers of
capital in this country Tia coon
erative enterprises and its entrance
int q 6ald af