The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1945-11-23

Eu.,s
Rspoass
hin WASHINGTON
! BY Waller Sheod
B VIM Correspondent
WNU Washington Bureau,
1915 Eye ST.. N. w.
Unions More Powerful
Now Than in 1919

II ISTORY is repeating itself in the
4 labor field. Following World
War l there was a wave of strikes
which involved, in 1919, approximate
ly four million workers, or almost
81 per cent of the entire industrial
working force.
Today, while less than zoe, 1000 men
are now on strike, it is estimated
that before the end of the year or
shortly thereafter there may be
about three million strikers or about
II per cent of the total workers.
The difference is that in 1919 unions
were not as tightly organized, they
did not have as many rights. there
was no collective bargaining. Unions
were financially unable to carry the
load of a long strike in those days.
Now unions are highly organized,
have more members, their treasures
are bullying, and they are able to
hire the best economists, publicity
men and research organizations on
par with Big Business. In addi-
ton, they have favorable laws as
bulwarks and a basis for their
stands. They are conducting high
ly organized propaganda or publicity
campaign, smart and effective.
Among these campaigns is one de-
signed to WOO the farmers.
The Economic Outlook" month
ly publication of the department of
research and education Of the CLIO
In Washington, in it's current issue,
is entirely devoted to propaganda
seeking to bridge the gap between
the farmer and the city worker.
six out of seven Americans who
work for a living are in overalls,"
the article says, land five of the
seven work for wages; one of the
seven works at farming. These men
and women and their families form
most of the public These are the
people who make up the bulk of the
consuming class. The dollars they
earn and spend make Americas
economic machine tick.
Issue Must Be Settled
"Now that the war is over, men
in overalls have a fight on their
hands to make America a full pro-
duction country in peace as well az
in war. Not all Americans agree.
The time is here when that issue
must be settled. Wage earners are
the first to join the issue, for UNI
employment is growing. It's a strug-
gle for life, for the right to work,
for the right to raise a family by
decent living standards. And unless
these men in overalls win the battle
for full production, full employment
and full wages now, it won't be long
before farmers in overalls are en-
gagged in life and death. struggle
for good markets at parity prices.
For all men in overalls are in the
same boat, they ride the waves of
prosperity together, they sink to de-
preston together. If wage earners
are making money, so are farmers.
II men walk the streets looking for
work, men on farms burn wheat,
dump milk, leave cotton unpicked.
That's depression, and Main street
suffers while Wall street trembles.
Studies by the U. S. federal trade
commission indicate that factory la
Dor cost of farm machinery is only
small part of the total price
charged to farmers. For example,
three-bottom tractor ploW for which
farmers paid $15350 had a manu-
featuring labor cost of only SILT.
For a cream separator, which had
about the highes* manufacturing
cost-of any agricultural implement,
the cost was $10O.84 and only $14.66
went to the wage earners who pro-
duced it. On that cream separator.
the manufacturers profits ran to 10
per cent and the retailers margin to
20 per cent of the selling price.
Unions Are Like Co-Ops
"Just as farmers have the right
to organize co-ops to GET fair prices,
so city workers have the right TO
organize unions to get fair wages and
working conditions. Nearly half of
all farmers, z,730, 900 in 1928, are
organized in 1872 selling co-ops.
There are also 10000 buying co-ops
with sac, 900 farmer members. More
than one-third of wage and salaried
workers, over IA million, are organ
lied in labor unions. Labor like
agriculture, deals with organized
business. Labor, like agriculture,
has organized to get "a fair deal.
when AAA crop control pro-
grams were in effect, cooperating
farmers didn't like to have nom
co-operators ride free. Those who
didn't cooperate got lower loans,
and with marketing quotas paid pen.
alties on sales. It was the closed
shop in agriculture. Unions don't
like free riders either.
Business got government priv.
lege long ago. It secured the right
to organize corporations. It also got
subsidies from the government, in.
Guiding high tariffs, franchises ane
many other forms Of privilege.
Agriculture first won the right to
bargain collectively for fair prices