Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-09-08
MAINTAIN AMERICAN STAND
ARDS

subject about which Eugene G.
Grace Of the Bethlehem Steel Com
pany writes for the Saturday Even
ing Post of September 4th.
It is an interesting article and
gives rise to more or less Of con-
a change in our conceptions of what
constitutes good merchandising
policy; that no longer do We regard
a big stock of merchandise as an in
dication of a prosperous business;
that we are limiting the seasonal
congestion of manufactures and dis
tributers by buying as we need,
hand-to mouth, in other words.
This Of course obviates the rush
and congestion consequent on sea-
sonal buying and affords steadier
employment. Old employees are re-
tained and kept employed. They so
take more interest in their en-
ployment and he reports great saw
ing in the steel industry from not
being compelled to let men go in
dull times and hiring and training
new men in rush times. Naturally
employees would have fewer griev-
ances under the year-round method.
And what with the good wages not
only are the wage workers excel
lent customers of our production but
they have money to invest in the
business of which they are part.
All profit from the year-round en-
ployment at good wages. Lowering
the wages and part-time employ
ment must necessarily make it i'm
possible for our wage-workers to be
good customers and all producers
feel the pinch. AS Mr.. Grace points
out we are all selling our productive
capacity for the best price obtain
able. Also capital formerly tied-up
over long periods by seasonal bust
ness is now active. The railroads
are prof1ting by reducing the stocks
on hand and by keeping their rolling
stock active. not idle at one season
and inadequate for the next.
Under all the circumstances Mr..
Grace thinks that in this country we
have pretty we'll discredited the old
saying that what is one mans profit
is another mans loss. He sees that
now this may only apply to purely
speculative operations; that while
for some years it has been recogniz-
ed that business to succeed must
furnish service. now We recog-
nize that not only is there a service
to our customers but also that which
one business renders to others by
maintaining American standards.
While Mr.. Grace makes no men
ton Of the tariff it is easy to see that
radically lowering it would make it
extremely difficult If not impossible
to render such service as the main
tenance of American standards. In
this connection 1t Is interesting to
learn that the Germany of today is
more productive in her industries
than before the war: that the lead
ers in industry are eliminating labor
from the management boards; that
whereas at first it was the policy to
furnish employment. to all, it now Is
to weed out the less efficient and
SO have a reserve and partially en-
ployed army Of labor to aid in keep
ing wages down. German in
dustrialists are not looking to the
maintenance Of the consuming ca
pacity of their own people, as are
American industrialists. but are
looking to foreign markets. And
the American market is the best in
the world.
Furthermore, we may be permit
ted to inquire just what may be
done toward relieving agriculture
along with industry of this burden
Of the seasonal demands What
may the farmer do to sell his prod
ucts, not at harvest but when the
demand Of the consumer warrants ?
What may he do to prevent his
capital being tied up and unprof1t-
able. his prices beaten down by sea-
sonal merchandising to an unprofit-
able basis? Manifestly according to
Mr.. Grace's theory other industry
must help the farmer to maintain
American standards.