Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-12-31

- ~ LAW ~ " ~ ~
ublc. GCnSially speaking, however,
The cost of living should be the an
SWer to the wage question. II the
government acts sanely about taxes
and If employers are reasonable
! about profits, then improved manu-
featuring processes should keep down
the average cost Of living. Certain
materials such as metals, for which
there is great foreign demand, will
| increase in. price: but other items,
like cotton, the export of which has
been severely cut, should show little
| change in price.
In short, if we will be reasonable
and keep down the cost of living,
most wage workers will not ask for
more money. 1t is true that labor
leaders usually feel they must get
something for their union members
each year in order to hold their Jobs
as labor leaders and collect dues
from members. In l941, however,
these leaders will have good excuse
and fine alibi for not doing this.
They can pass the buck to the gov
eminent and to Mr.. Hitler. l am very
serious about this. Let us all, whether
employers or wage workers, act III
i94l as if we were in the army,
whether or not we have on a uni
form.
Higher Pay ROlls-Fewer Strikes.
Total pay rolls will be bigger in
l941 than ever before in our his
tory. Even today with 100000 ur-
employed, total pay rolls are higher
than at the peak of the past period
of prosperity, and much greater than
during the silk shirt era of World
War |. There are three reasons for
this: Cd The United States has 90
900, 900 more people. (2) The working
week has been reduced from Is to
10 hours. go Hourly wages have in
creased in nearly every line. Also,
inventors and research engineers are
making our dollar 60 further Hence,
when turning his pay envelope into
food, clothing, and shelter, the man
with Il job is better off than ever
before
l do not believe any sensible labor
leader, wage worker, or employee is
going to think of striking during
l94l. II the cost of living goes up,
then let wages be amicably adjusted
correspondingly. l surely forecast no
industry-wide strikes during l94l. AS
to the communiStic element, the vote
on last November 5 shows this is
declining. Even the most radical
know what has happened already to
labor unions and their leaders II
every country but the United States.
l believe labor will show apprecia-
ton for its blessings by being extra
fair during 194l.
Farm Income Uncertain.
Ordinarily, farm income from mar
keting and benefit payments in 1871
should exceed the 1910 figure of
around S9,O00,000,000, but | cannot
promise this. Weather is very UNI
practicable and important factor. EX-
ports will be so severely cut and such
large SURPRISES already exist that
I am not too optimistic on farm
prices. Yet, if the cost Of the things
which the farmer must buy is kept
down, he should be at least as well
off in l941 as in 1910. Interest rates
will be in his favor, and taxes should
rot hurt him. There will be no new
gadgetS, such as automobiles, re-
lrigerators, and radios, offered TO his
family during 1871 which he must
buy Furthermore, if Germany ana
Great Britain begin to use arsenic
next summer to kill each others
crops, U. S. farmers may save the
situation and really prosper. Con-
sidering all things, think the farm
ers' cash income in 194l may exceed
1910 by S450,000,000, about five per-
cent despite the reduced exports OF
cotton, wheat, tobacco, and fruits.
All of this means that present ben
efits to farmers will continue thro-
ughout 194l at around S6OO,OOO,OOO
In addition to the existing reasons
for such benefits to continue, there
is the additional pressure OF South
American diplomacy. The people OF
South America have only wheat, cat
tie, and other agricultural products
to sell. We must help them sell them
to keep their good will. This, how
ever, puts a real handicap on u. 5.
farmers. If our farmers are to accept
this burden, it surely is up to the rest
of us to help them carry it. Hence,
farm benefits will be more logical
in 1941 than ever before.
Foreign Trade Outlook.
Foreign trade will be very ire
gular during l941. If allowed to take
its natural course, it will slowly but
steadily decline. Every now and
then, however, something gives 1t a
shot in the arm. Any hypodermlc
has a stimulating effect for awhile.
The recent S1OO,OOO,OOO loan to China
and the talked-of loans to South
America are illustrations. If we re-
peal the johnson act, allowing loans
to Great Britain, this will boost for
eign trade for awhile. While the sum-
mer months and even September,
1910, showed constant slumps, Oc-
tober and succeeding months have
shown imprOVement,