The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-05-27
Observation-Disclosures
Just Strol|ing
Round the own ;.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A PERPLEXED MOTHER
BY c. D. r.

In strolling round the town the
other day ! met a LIBBY hiothel
who was kind enough to pay me
fine compliment on my recent eai-
torial Soft Sons and Soft Par
ents.a She said the editorial was
exactly right. that il touched on
condition in American homes that
is deplorable. We chatted for some
time, with the proprietor of one OF
our stores-a father-lolnlng III the
discussion
This Libby mother was perpleXed
and worried She is IN the midst
of rearing adolescent sons and
daughters through most difficult
period. She is highly intelligent and
feels the responsibility OF guiding
her children wisely. But in many
ways she said she is stumped.
pals OF my boy gather at our
house frequently she SAID, ana !
wish YOU could hear their ideas OF
life and their responsibilities to It.
And | also wish you could talk TO
them.
The conversation brought out
that one problem troubling TINS
good woman was the youths ex-
nectation that they should step
right into highly paid jobs. One or
two of them had worked last year
during vacation al good Job pay
ing As cents an hour.
"Why. pooh IS cents an hoaf.
Think of it! Ridiculous! Why, see
what they are paying at such ana
such a plant was their attitude.
said this mother. The mother SAID
she asked them. Just what do you
think YOU are worth to an EN-
ployer? Remember, you are young
unframed, unskilled labor. An en-
plover must spend time and money
training you. Under those condl-
tons, now, really. how much are
you worth in the labor market2
But that was phase of the argu-
ment the youths didn care TO dis
cuss. Life had always been more OF
less easy for most Of them and they
were convinced il always would be
with big privileges obtained With
out too much effort on their part.
That is probably a common attri-
butte of adolescent youth, but Il
they are really thrown out onto
their own and not taken care OF by
a soft-headed father, life will soon
knock much Of that softness out Of
them.
It's interesting for older people
to bark back over the years ana
compare wages paid young boys a
generation ago with what IS beng
paid today. | have in mind young
fellow who left high school and
started out with determination
to conauer the world-at least his
own little part of the world Ills
first experience in world conquer
inc was to learn trade. And he
was paid the munifieent wage Of
$500 a-no, not $500 day, as you
might think-but $500 a week, and
he boarded at home. Furthermore,
he worked 10 hours day and SIX
days week.
That sounds ridiculous now COM
nared with some wages paid TO IN
skilled workers today and with
some of the skilled workers getting
almost as much an hour as that boy
got for weeks labor. Raw, I'M
trained youths today are earning
much more than that weekly wage
each and every day that they work.
But that boy was learning a skilled
trade. He wasn't worth much tc
start with, and he was required tc
serve a term as an apprentice. Al
ter he had worked a few months
his parents removed to another city
and he was to 60 with them. Where
upon his employer offered to raise
his wages to the royal rate of S4.0
week if the boy would remain or
the job.
Of course, $500 in those day,
were worth a great deal more thar
they are today. Good shoes cos
about $3.50 a pair, a fine suit from
SIS to $40, good room in an ex-
cellent home Sl00 a week.
After this same young man hae
mastered his trade. his wages haC
increased to $500 day of 10 hours
each, which was high wages. Fl,
was induced TO 60 West enticec
partly by promise Of a wage 0