Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1937-01-14

much better for all the people if,
instead of wages advances, the
corporations granting them should
make price reductions. Naturally,
if the price of great many things
is reduced, that is an increase in
real wages. The same amount of
dollars would buy more.
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
ICED laborers as much as the or
gained, or almost as much. They
tend to equalize conditions, and to
bring everybody up together. F'urth-
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. 4.
Obviously, under the trend of
wage advances and hour curtail-
ments now going forward so rapid
ly, what really amounts to a 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, due to the higher. prices it's
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 in 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 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 it's own. 'r''
The immediate, result, they point
out when they dare speak above a
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 it's 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 recommends
tons. They realize also, as. demon
strated by nationwide poll last
spring, that the country is very
heavily in favor of the government
making all it's 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 eyer devised of pre-
V6nClIS wars. .iitt
Army and navy officers are the
first to admit that munition makers
like to sell munitions, and that
they like to make a 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 great deal to
the national defense of this country
should it be forced into a war.
AS They See 1t Ala
The officers would change the pre-
ceding sentence to read, "when this
country is forced into a 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 a question of
time.
In fact, most officers in the serv-
ices think that proposed steps taken
with. a view to rnainta ming peace