The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-01-14
Price Reductions

So far, some of this minority have
pointed out to the writer, it would
seem as though it did not make
much difference which method were
applied. But it does. 1t makes every
difference in the world as far as
passing prosperity around is con-
cerned.
Price reductions, they point out.
cheaper the cost of living for ev-
cry one They benefit the morgan
lied laborers as much as the or
gained, or almost as much. They
tend to equalize conditions. and to
bring everybody UP together. Furth-
ermore, they tend to boost exports
and increase international trade,
highly esteemed by still another
part of this dissatisfied group as
tending toward the prevention OF
war, as well as for general prosperi-
ty.
Obviously, under thea trend of
wage advances and hour curtail-
ments now going forward so rapid
ly, what really amounts to small
fraction of American labor benefits
out of all proportion to the rest.
In fact, the living condition of the
remainder is slightly reduced there
by, die to the higher prices its
members have to pay for every
thing they buy.
A glance over any list OF payroll
boosts as printed in the newspapers,
members of this minority complain
to the writer, shows that people
being most benefited are those
which need it least of all the groups
of workers.
There is no such feeling on the
part of this minority with respect
to hour cuts, though they admit
that the general effect here is the
same. But, they contend. reductions
In working hours have tremen-
dously beneficial effect if the long
pull that boosts in wages do not
have. They tend to reduce the num-
Der of hours all employees work,
and this Improvement tends toward
permanence. In fact, there IS sell
dom a backward step on this road.
Also, they provide more employ
ment in the industries affected.
Whereas wages are important only
in buying power, not in the num-
Der of dollars involved.
Army Officers Worry
High army officers are tremen-
dously concerned over the prospect
that congress may provide that all
munitions shall be manufactured
from now on by the government.
They fear two phases of legislation
--one that would prohibit the ex-
port of arms and munitions at any
time, and the other that the govern
ment make all its own.
The immediate result, they point
out when they dare speak above
whisper, would simply be to close
down munitions works now operat-
ing in this country since the private
ly-owned plants would then have no
possible markets.
The army tried last summer to
make its case-for there is very
little disagreement among high
ranking officers Of either service.
But both the army and navy re
alize that the public is not much
interested in their recommended
tons. They realize also, as demon
strated by nationwide poll last
spring, that the country is very
heavily in favor of the governments
making all its own munitions.
The explanation is very SIM
ple--the public has been educated
for years now to believe that
many wars are encouraged by mu-
milton makers anxious for business.
Hence to take the profit out of
warm the public's mind-might
be the most satisfactory and effec-
tive method ever devised of pre-
venting wars.
Army and navy officers are the
first to admit that munition makers
like to sell munitions, and that
they like to make profit on them.
But they are much more concerned
about some of the possibilities on
the other side of the picture-pos-
sibilities which the public does not
consider at all, practically, but
which may mean a great deal to
the national defense of this country
should it be forced into war.
AS They See. 1t
The officers would change the pre-
ceding sentence to read, when this
country is forced into war for
they have no doubt whatever that
sooner or later this country, re-
CARELESS Of any pacifst legisla-
ton which may be passed mean
time, will engage in another war.
To them it is just question OF
time,
In fact, most officers in the serv-
ices think that proposed steps taken
with a view to maintaining peace
are more calculated to get the Unit.
ed States into war-at some time
in the future, than to keep us out
Here is their theory in nutshell
II there are no private munitions