The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-11-26
LIFTING THE LID
Nv i. r.. Jones

l
Washington, d. c., Nov. 22-The
compromise settlement of the soft
coal strike was Immediately follow
ed by demands for wage increases by
organized labor. It lifted the lid. AL
ready fear exists in Washington that
there will be break in sterilization
planning. The Little Steel" formula
seems to be caving in, and there are
indications that the CLIO is taking
the place of John L. Lewis in the ef-
forts to raise wages. For long time
there have been threats of trouble
among the railroad workers, and
rail disputes are headaches to the
National Administration.
President Roosevelt has created a
new labor-industry board that has
opened an investigation of the war
time cost of living. Briefly, this is
an effort, in support of his declara-
lions that there must be food subsi-
dies and ceilings on food prices and
other family commodities-or there
would be imitation.
The recent Presidential message
on food production submitted to
Congress sought to prove that the
average income of farm operators
has risen more than the average in
come of the other parts of the popu-
aNtion. That stimulated the activities
of the OPA in forcing down the
prices of food products.
e. ok ,ln; ho< IA nffn n
maintain living costs at the level of
September, 1912, can be carried
through. The further statement of
The Chairman of the War Labor
Board that wage controls are not
fair ito workers is not at all reassur-
ing.
1t is to be hoped that the more
conservative ALL, which has more
members than the other two princi-
pad unions, will be successful in its
announced intentions ito hold labor
unions in check and thereby prevent
a runaway in prices, which not only
would put less real money into the
pockets of labor-thus having the
opposite effect from what we are
seeking-but would be particular
betrayal of the many millions whose
incomes have not increased in this
war.
The fact that there have been
sporadic disturbances over wages in
some of our war production plants is
not encouraging. The government
may have to adopt methods more
workable than the present ones If
the METRE nation is not to be victim
lied by the selfish shortsightedness
of organized labor.
as&&
New Lague OF Nations
| All this discussion about the for
nation of society of nations" to
preserve the peace follows the form
ulas by which the League of Nations
was organized. The League was too
confiding, gentle and trusting, and it
failed to carry out it's purposes. A
prominent educator once told this
writer: There is only one thing
wrong with the League" "And what
is that?," / asked. "It has never
been tried" was the response. The
League did not have any way to
force warlike nations to behave. 1t
provided an excellent arena for dis
cussion, as your correspondent can
testify from personal observation
in Geneva. The trouble was that the
United States and other Nations were
certain that nothing will happen"
The new organization will probab-
ly start out with new name, but
it will be more than an international
debating society. It will have teeth
that will bite. 1t will be in the po-
sition to call on he armed forces of
the most powerful nations in the
world to prevent and stop total
wars. 1t should be a success!
We Never Heard Anything Like This
Donald Nelson, head of war pro-
duction, has returned from his trip
to Russia and he gives out the news
that Stain told him that the Soviet
Government is going to repay all of
the lend lease that it has received
from the United States. None of the
other co-partners in this war have
ever talked like that.