Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-20
BY ROGER w. BABSON.

BABSON PARK, Fla. February
20.-Four factors favor high wages
Restricted immigration continues to
ne in full force and is constantly be-
coming more serious in reducing the
supply OF labor in this country. More
over l see no immediate signs Of Con
gress relaxing immigration restric-
lions. but rather there are signs which
Will make the smuggling Of labor into
the country more difficult
Prolong1ng the school years-both
by legislation and CUSTOMS constant
~ tending to reduce the supply Of
available labor. Formerly the ma
1ority OF boys went to work when IA
years OF age, and in my opinion many
OF them were very much better for
so doing; hut this age Is gradually be-
ing extended to Is years or Is years.
Although the State universities and
high schools are a distinct handicap,
instead of help, to many young peo-
pie; yet the style now is to send all
children TO high school and as many
as possible to some university.
Views on Work Dangerous.
The prevalent idea that work is
| something to be avoided is also rails.
ing havoc with the labor market, both
by keeping people from doing an hon
est days work, and by developing our
| most promising young men into clerks
instead Of producers. Our faulty edu-
| cational system together with the in
difference of parents, is largely to
blame for this condition. 1t is an in
creasingly serious factor. and some
day must be corrected.
The raising and improving Of the
standard Of living is a constant pres
hi
wages. This pressure is greatly inten-
sified by the constantly increasing de-
mands of the wife and the children for
more and better things. This condi-
ton has always existed and is not to
be deplored. Dissatisfaction, among
young people especially, is more prev
alent today than ever before. This
is a. hard matter to tabulate satisfac-
torily, but 1t is a real factor in the
wage situation.
Factors Favoring Lower Wages.
The greatest basic economic force
at work tending to keep wages down
is the constantly developing foreign
competition For while foreign
goods can be kept out of this country
by tariff war. but these foreign
goods cannot be kept out forever.
Trade is like a stream Of water and A
tariff war is like a dam: but neither
trade nor water can be damned for
ever. Ultimately, the water flows over
the dam, or the dam breaks. In this
instance either the flowing over or
breaking OF the dam would mean low
er wages in this country.
The tremendous growth Of install
ment sales among wage workers
makes them very much less independ-
ent than formerly. In the old days.
the wage worker needed TO consider
only the landlord and the grocer. when
voting for a strike; but now he must
think Of the piano, radio, monograph.
clothing and various other things
which he has purchased on the in
stalment plan. l noticed only yester-
day that a Chicago firm Is offering
trips to Europe, payable $50 down
and the balance over a period of years.
Strike Threats Appear Needed.
The failure of the coal strike is
causing strikes to be unpopular at
organizations losing many members.
able to get redress and secure higher
wages without resorting to a strike:
but under the present set-up it seems
necessary for them TO at least be able
to threaten to strike. Without the
threat. the average employer pays lit
tie attention to their demands. al
though employers are making a mis-
take in following this custom.
The cost of living ought to decline
this does not mean the standard of