The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, March 15, 1920, Page 13

iy SIRBCS | Labor Not to Blame for High Prices |——————————2 Texas' Business Man Shows That Fault% Distribution DON’T NEGLECT A System Is Chiefly Responsible DITOR Nonpartisan Lead- er: It has been made to appear by the Literary Digest that the farmers generally are hostile to- ward union labor, hold- ing labor responsible for high prices, but I believe this is wrong. In the small but profitable business with which I am connected (typewriters) labor costs, though 50 per cent more than before the war, cut very little figure in profits; the additional costs for freight and express aggregate more than the labor increases. In the great businesses like steel, oil, ete., I- believe that labor costs are still lower in proportion. In the building trades the labor cost ‘has increased to a larger degree, but there is a misconception upon the part of the public in general concerning these wages. The capitalists gener- ally and partisan politicians figure out how much such a man makes in a year as if he put in every working day, whereas I am told that the trades mentioned do not succeed in getting in more than 50 to 75 per cent of the working days above holidays. This puts a different ‘complexion upon the matter. These trades, in this city, draw on an average about $44 per week for a 44-hour week—$2,288 per year. But when you cut this down, say 331-3 per cent, the figures are quité moderate, living expenses and rents considered. : FARMERS DEPEND UPON WORKERS FOR MARKET Our present structure of prices is a house of cards; if you pull out one card the whole house comes down. Reduce high wages in the cities and workers can not pay the high prices for food, coal, clothing, ete., which would react upon the farmer. The price structure may well be compared to a slippery hill, much easier and safer to go up than to come down. . There is no doubt in my mind that our distribution system is wasteful, extravagant and really criminal. Dur- ing the past summer, instead of tak- ing a useless, expensive vacation, I went out with cne of our salesmen in his Ford and camped out for two weeks. As we left Dallas I bought three good peaches for a dime. With- in less than 100 miles we went down a sandy lane to find a camping place. ‘While the partner was preparing the camp I took a lard bucket and a sack and went down to see the outlook for foraging. I got a gallon of milk for (Continued from page 4) New York the premiums collected by township mutuals and the state insur- ance department would go into banks friendly to or owned by the common people. There they would be avail- able for financing the co-operative creamery, co-operative elevator, the state industries, or for mortgage loans at low rates to farmers. It would be difficult to overestimate the advantage this would be' to co-operation and other nonprofit business. Unfair bank- ing service is the chief problem of co- operators. The state of Massachusetts has been - writing nearly all kinds of life insur- ance, including group insurance of factory employes, in connection with its state savings banks. Ohio and ‘Washington have made a conspicuous success of state insurance for risks under workmen’s compensation. Fire 15 cents and the farmer asked me if I liked peaches. He told me to take all I wanted. : “They are not worth the crates,” he said, “and the bhest I can get is 25 cents a bushel, hauled to town, three or four miles away.” And they were the most splendid peaches I ever ate! In the morning I went down for more milk and a few more peaches and found our friend energetically throwing that splendid fruit over the fence to his hogs. I helped him, inwardly cursing at the fool system we have which causes peo- ple to pay an extortionate price for fruits and vegetables, while 100 miles away they are worthless. Farmers, as a class, need educating as to what city dwellers have been up against for the past few years. A farmer boy reads about city laborers getting $5, $7.50 and even $10 a day, but he does not stop to think that if he had such a job he would have to pay $5 to $7 a week foria decent room, outrageous prices for meals, clothing, etc. = A short trial would convince him that current wages on the farm would make him more money at the end of the year. I am 53 years old, born in Michigan, grew to young manhood in Nebraska on a farm, went through drouths, grasshoppers and all that sort of thing, so I am not writing from theory but from knowledge. There are eénough people in the United States who are dissatisfied with both the old " parties to elect every office that is open this fall and the thing to do is to lay aside prejudices, misunderstand- ings, go to the bottom of the thing and all unite. Dallas, Texas. C. M. RORK. WHO GOT THE DIFFERENCE? The prices of wheat and its products for September 23, 1919, compared to the fixed prices in effect during gov- ernment control, shows that wheat has gone up .17% per cent, but flour has increased 34.7 per cent in price, bran 41.7 per cent, mixed feed 58.5 per cent and middlings, shorts and red dog 73.5 per cent, says a bulletin of the North Dakota Agricultural college. The percentage of increase in the prices of flour and the feed from the wheat was thus two to four times as much as for the wheat. WHAT DEMOCRACY IS “A democracy is a country that is not ruled, but served.”—DAVID STARR JORDAN. Fire Insurance—A High Cost Business insurance is no more difficult or intri- cate than these other kinds, and in it the progressive state has an oppor- tunity to perform a great business service for its people. Get My \Q that ever turned a w. I cando it . 30Days’ Trial—Satisfaction Guaranteed < 1 want to quote you a price that will eause you to sit ri%}:t up and take notice on the grandest, best plow inm it because we are t! You buy at the actual factory p a rice when you order direct from us. But better plow. I say to you that the ADVERTISEMENTS RHEUMATIC P Go after it with Sloan’s Lini- ment before it gets dangerous Z, H FIND OUT ' Apply a little, don’t rub, let it pene- trate, and—good-by twinge! Same for external aches, pains, strains, stiffness of joints or muscles, lameness, bruises. Instant relief without mussiness or soiled clothing. Reliable—the biggest selling liniment year after year. Eco- nomical by reason of enormous sales. Keep a big bottle ready at all times. Asktyour druggist for Sloan’s Lini- ment. What You Can Save on a Pipeless Furnace Our customers save from $4010 $100 or more. 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Men are needed every- where to repair and eperate them. Big wages . - nr: paelg colxg tent t;ne;xuvrhe Enow hg‘;.b Yglu h 5 iy returned soldiers and sailors who want jobs bigger than you left—you young men ever where—your opportunity is right here, Don’t sit and dream of suc%ess-y-mnie it, L 3 Propare yourself for this big, growing, Make $29000 to $5’ooo a Yeal' money-making business, Opfiortunitien walt you everywhere. Every village has or needs its garage. Big city shops aré calling fon more trained men. *‘White collar’* jebs no longer get the good pay. Auto mechanica always have good jobs and get big pay. Your opportunity as a trained auto or tractor man - is bigger RIGHT NOW than ever before. 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