Evening star., 1947-09-01
Labor Day Statements
Show New Discord
On Wage-Price Issue
BY the Associated Press

Inc NaLlOn S annual ODSerV'
ance of Labor Day touched of
a fresh administration industry
disagreement over prices ane
what they mean to the working
man.
Industry, through President Ear
Bunting of the National Association
of Manufacturers, said American
workers have "a substantially high
er actual buying power than the.
had eight years ago.
But the administration, through
Secretary of Labor Schwellenbach
declared the wage Garner has no
been able to keep abreast of thu
cost Of living
Mr.. SchWellenbach, speaking by
radio last night, also took issue with
what he described as widespread
effort to blame price advances or
wage increases alone
But the head of the National AS
sociation of Manufacturers con.
tended in statement that labor
costs represent between IS and 8;
>er cent of the total expenses which
determine final prices.
Truman Sets Stage for Battle.
President Truman himself gen.
orally steered clear of issues in i'm.
mediate controversy in a message
made public on the eve of his de,
parture for Rio de Janeiro.
Yet he set the stage for many
an explosive battle on Capitol Hill
next year by calling on Congress tt
ta) increase the minimum wage
in interstate industry, (b) broader
the social security system to brine
in many persons not now covered
and (c) establish an adequate sys.
tenn of health insurance"
Mr.. Truman declared that "gooC
labor relations cannot be
brought about by legislation" but
he made no direct reference to the
Taft Hartley Act which union
leaders picked as the target of theil
Labor Day messages.
Green. Murray Urge Repeal.
AFrL President William Greer
CIO President Philip Murray issued
separate calls for an all-out efforl
to bring about repeal of the measure
'vhich went into full effect only
20 days ago.
Said Mr.. Green:
There can be no real hope OF
pture progress and the enjoyment
# the free, American way of life
or the wage earners of our country
,hile the Taft-Hartley Act re-
mains on the statute books.
In the coming year labor must
'.ert it's political strength as never
fore in it's history"
Said Mr. Murray:
All American Workers-not just
hose who belong to labor unions
ilould rally on this Labor Day tc
Import the groups which are seek
g to prevent, further turning back
f the clock on the management
abor relations"
Bunting Calls for Cooperation.
Mr.. Bunting sounded call fol
cooperation.
Nothing would mean more to the
future of this country" the NAM
executive asserted, than a firm
resolution by every member of the
production team-both management
and labor-to keep America at work
with everyone producing more sc
that there eventually will be more
to share"
Mr.. Bunting said that if every
American worker would devote 9
part of this holiday ito an objective
review of where he stands flnan-
cially" as compared with prewal
1889 "he would inevitably reach the
conclusion that, in spite OF all the
hubub about high prices. he has
made encouraging progress IN the
goods value of his wages and con-
sequently in his standard OF living.
Despite the decreased value OF
the dollar and a ST per cent rise
in living costs since 1889, the NAN
chief continued, the doubling Of
annual earnings during that time
has given American workers a sub
stantially higher actual buying pow
er than they had eight years ago.
Mr.. Schwellenbach acknowledged
that wage increases have been
factor in price rises. But he sale
corporation profits rose from $323.'
100000 in the first three months o1
1946 to S875 100000 for the samt
period this year and ADDED:
These profits are in part made
because of increase in prices.
The Labor Secretary said there
have been "particularly frequen
protestations' seeking to "shoulde
the responsibility for increased
prices exclusively upon the back
of those who work"
The reason" he continued, Il
the hope that the American peopl
will forget statements that th'
same individuals made in June o
last year when they promised tina
with the lifting of price control
within few months prices Woult
be lowered. .
yet the fact remains MI
Schwellenbach asserted, that tn
price of (food) products produces
very largely by unorganized worker
has increased 70 per cent and thos
manufactured products) produce
very largely by organized worker
have increased 48 per cent
Meanwhile Frank Goldman, pres
ident of B'Nai Birth. said in
statement that he had written tn
presidents of the AFL. C1O ami
Railway Labor Executives Associa
tion ION behalf of the largest Jew
isht service organization in the
world" to express appreciation TO
American organized labor's con
tribution toward keeping Amerlc'
safe for democracy.