The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-11-03
indianapolis Near Bottom OF
List in U. S. on Average
Pay to Workers.
UNION LEADERS SPEAK
Call for Change in Method
If Greater Prosperity
Is to Be Won.

UlGlllC 1O1 bAlC oAVNdoAOAA VA VAAS A."
wage level which they allege pre-
walls. here.
James c. Shanessy, general presi-
dent, and Jacob Fischer, general
secretary treasurer, of the Journey
men BARRIERS International Union of
North America, with he dqu,.rterS
here, authors of the letter, assert
that statistics reveal Indianapolis
stands fifty-frst in list of seventy
four large cities in average wages
paid to industrial workers.
The letter points out:
That Baltimore and New Orleans
are the only cities equal to or larger
than Indianapolis in population
which pay a lower average wage.
Little Money to Spend
That "the anti-union- low-wage
policy" is injuring the city, in that
men cannot "sperd money in stores.
with professional classes and the
like if they do not have it to spend"
That the total average wage paid
for every man, woman and child IN
Indianapolis in 1925, the latest fig
ures available, was $149.96, as COM
pared with national average In
seventy-four cities of $157.97.
The letter in part follows:
at has come to our attention that
YOU are engaged actively in move
ment to establish $1,000,000 indus
trial foundation in indianapolis to
promote the city's prosperity and
growth. AS residents and property
owners of this city, we are interested
in any movement directed to this
end and would like to help in our
humble way.
Unions Help Banks
"You are aware, no doubt, that five
important trade unions MAINTAIN
their international headquarters IN
this city and have done so for many
wears. They spend money here, en-
ploy help at good wages and-what'
may appear of more immediate i'm
portance-maintain large depoSlCS
of money in the local banks, which
materially increase the industrial
and commercial loaning power OF
these istitutions.
mind YOU, we do not assume to
speak officially for all these unions,
but mention them here only to give
significance to suggestions that FOL
low. Assuredly they feel about the
situation much the same as we do.
Indianapolis is known as a low
wage center and an open shoppers
paradise. Determined opposition OF
business interest, especially since the
war. has served to defeat most labor
organization efforts here. In con-
sequence, wages are far below the
average for cities of this class.
LET us reflect that such authori-
ties as President Coolidge, Secretary
Hoover, Secretary Davis, Owen D.
Young of the General Electric, B. G.
Forbes, business analyst; Henry
Ford land host of others have de-
clared that market strength and
prosperity are dependent on the
buying power of the masses, which
means high wages.
Methods Are Obsolete
"That Indianapolis has not en-
loved an influx of factories, as a re-:
suit of its anti-union wage complex
ion, is due to the fact that this
method of Turing industrial entire
perieurs is obsolete.
Nov, to fix the character of this
city from the workers viewpoint. We
are indebted to Thomas G. Lewis,
Statistician of the international
Typographical Union, for these
figures, which cover 1925. Of later
figures were available, it is likely
they would paint more nournful
picture)
Among seventy-four large cities,
for which governmental figures are
available, to show average earnings
of workers, indianapolis stands
fifty-first. Only two other cities OF
equal size or larger than Indianapo-
lis pay their workers lower average
yearly income. Those two cities are
New Orleans and Baltimore.
I'm the former city the low aver
age is accounted for by the large
number of poorly paid and frequent
ly idle Negro workers, while in Bal
timore poorly paid Negro and women
workers bring the average down.
indianapolis industries fell short
in 1925 of paying their workers an
average income by the sum Of
$2,745, 900.
Hurts All Glasses
"That means that this amount
failed to reach the pockets of Indi-
annapolis merchants, doctors, law
years, theaters, etc. For, mark this:
The worker spends all his money, or
nearly all, in his home town, whereas
the owners of Indianapolis indus
tries-many of whom live elsewhere
spend theirs in New York, Chicago
and even in Europe.
I'm other words, as all leading
economists preach the prosperity OF
any community depends upon the
free circulation of money, as is had
in all communities where workers
are organized and receive fair wages.
1--WE sincerely hope that the In
dustrial Foundation Plan will meet
with success, but would it not be
wise to examine employer strategy
as a more immediate means of in
cxeasing the city's prosperity"