The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1925-09-11

"'x&(4 Nh llILlNIN l&Y9RY
milton to Mexico, British labor might
have claimed the credit. Instead, the
credit must go to those denounced by
British labor as reactionary.
However, it matters not from whom
justice comes, so long as it comes.
"a pa "a "a pa
SHALL WE REDUCE WAGES?
Under the above caption the fol-
lowing article appeared in the editor
ial page of the current issue of Henry
Ford's Dearborn Independent:
"The progressive path that indus
try will take is clearly marked, but
not all of industry is within it. That
part which clings to the old formula
is headed in the opposite direction;
it is on the way out. Not even de-
nunciation need be wasted on it; it's
doom is certain. It may be identified
at the present moment by its move
ment to reduce wages.
Financial and industrial influences
which favor reduction of wages as
first aid to business are stupidity un-
conscious that thereby they deal busi-
ness it's first staggering blow. They
are curtailing business at it's source,
the source being buying ability on the
part of the people.
When the public goes on buyers
strike; when workmen go on pro-
| duction strike; when employers go on
wage strike, precisely the same
thing accurs in all cases. Wage re-
| duction is the same as work reduc-
| ton, and both result inevitably in a
| buying reduction.
The helplessness of any business is
| proved the moment it's managers
agree that nothing can be done ex-
cept reduce the pay envelope. No
| concern is entitled to the description
of Header in industry" no manager
should be called "a captain of indus
| try" who resorts to such contempti-
BILE methods as financing themselves
out of the wages of their employees,
forcibly taken.
Yet it is being proposed all over
this country that buying power be
| reduced by the reduction of wages
and this proposal is seriously made
with the purpose of helping business
1t is not only being proposed, it is
also being defended by financial
| writer's" A 10 per cent cut occur
ing in the woolen industry is justified
on the ground that 'next spring
woolens are to be reduced % pei
cent, and that the wooden company
| has already reduced its employees
house rents 25 per cent.
These figures are used to make il
appear that they balance the 10 pei
| cent wage cut, since "22" and "25'
look so much bigger than 80" But
analyze it. Suppose the weekly wage
to be $40. A 10 per cent cut amounts
to 81. Suppose, under the paternal-
| istic system of factory, the rent to
be $40. A 25 per cent reduction in
rent would only be $3.50. If the rent
| is $50 month, in four weeks the
wage reduction would be $1,000 as
| against a rent reduction of $3.50
| SOllSiOCI luI ticI IUdl IillS ~ per Ccllt
represents one of several reductions
during the year, and then consider
what would happen to the woolen in
| dustry if all other industries follow
ed suit.
The system represents such a
stupid and self-destructive fallacy
that it is astonishing to meet it still
operative in this enlightened age.
"a "a "a m "a
FREEDOM OF TEACHING
Freedom to search for the truth
wherever that may lead, is a prin-
ciple fundamentally bound up with
human freedom. To deny that prin-
ciple is to mold the shackles Of physi-
cal and spiritual unfreedom. Only
a free mind can reach into an infinite
universe with the largest degree of
comprehension. As soon as we pre-
scribe limitations on education we put
limitations on life. Voluntary limi-
tations are bad, but Legislative re-