The labor advocate. [volume], January 01, 1916, Page 4, Image 4

About The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937

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THE LABOR ADVOCATE
INDEPENDENT
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NONPARTISAN
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A PAPER FOR ALL WHO TOIL
Olllclul Orpin or The IStiilrilug Trades Council of Cincinnati mid Vicinity
ISSUFII WlXKLY
V. E. MYERS Editor
Business Office, 20-21 Thorns Building. Phone, Canal 5511
Communications should be on hand not later than Wednesday to insure
publication.
ONE DOLLAR A YEAR IN ADVANCE
Entered at the postofficc at Cincinnati 0., as second-class mail matter.
CINCINNATI, OHIO, JANUARY l, luic.
f It KM KM 1 1 10 It
The friendly business firms ho nic pntioiil.lii tlic Jiiibor AIo-
cute and cndeaioririK to show tlielr gooil will and sincerity through
X tlie columns of this paper, the olllclul Journal, deserte the patrou
J ae of loyal members of organized labor, and will be remembered
by t hem on cery shopping trip.
j t-
A FORECAST.
American Labor in 1916.
It is only natural that labor loaders, business men, manufacturers
and financiers should at this time be casting- anxious eyes on the
future. The condition of American business and finance during the
coming year is attracting the attention of every man of importance
who is engaged in commercial life in the United States, and many
are even looking further into the future, some going so far ahead
as 1920 in their efforts to discover something which will bring about
a reversal of the present condition of commercial activity.
The horizon of the future is being searched with the most power
ful glasses. The problems now confronting the world are vast;
more vast and extensive than at any time in past history. When
will the great war which is now involving luirope in conflict come
to an end and what will be its direct results upon American financial
and business conditions and progress?
The realignment of existing bordei s of the nations now engaged
in conflict does not, so much concern America and American condi
tions as does the industrial conditions which will come when peace
is declared. There appears to be no cause for alarm that this coun
try will become involved in this conflict. Neither side of the con
tending forces can afford to have this country drawn into the Iuiro
pean conflict, and we are, for the present at least, immune from all
fear on this score For this reason the American people may, with
reasonable assurance, look forward to some years of peace. The
conquering nations of Kutope will be so completely exhausted that
ears will elapse before a possible attack upon us could be under
taken. This fact will give us ample time in which to prepare, al
though this piocess of preparation should not be delayed.
t the present time practically all American iudustiies are work
ing to capacit), and labor appears to be employed almost to the total
iapacit of the piesent population to supply brain and brawn. When
the war ends this condition will hardlj be changed. The nations of
I'urope will loquite the services of every able-bodied man in the
work of rebuilding and lehabilitation, and emigration will undoubt
ed! be restricted, if not b) attractive wages, then by government
action; and there does not appeal to be the slightest icason to fear
a general exodus to this country. Alieady this condition is being
reflected by piohibition of emigration from Fiench- and Fnglish
spcaking countries, and as time goes on the restrictions alieady
made to keep men at home will be tightened, luirope will lcquire
the services of more men when the war is over than aie required
at this time.
Far from hurting American industrial conditions, the ending of
the war will btiug about an even gi eater demand for American
products. Peace will mean a generally improved condition of Euro
pean labor; higher wages, with consequent hifji -r cost of produc
tion. Such countries as France and Russia will be modernized by
the installation of up-to-date methods and machinery. There will
be a tremendous shortage in the available supply of men for many
cars to come in all of the nations now engaged in war, and it would
not, by any means, be surprising to see better labor conditions
that is, higher wages in Europe within the next few years than
those which now prevail in America.
Each of the nations now at wai will be fenced to immediately
commence the work of reconstruction and modernization. Women
will be called upon to perforin the labor done by men in the past,
and machinery will be needed to make this change possible. Al
ready European agents are in this country arranging for deliveries
of this machinery as far ahead as 1920, and there is every prospect
that even with the close of the war the demand for arms and am
munition will continue for many years to" come. All shops now
engaged in the manufacture of these materials of war have con
tracts which will keep them busy for years to come.
The American farmer has enjoyed many ears of great pros
perity, the year just ending being the best in history. Practically
all products of the farm mean cash, especially such as is shipped
abroad. Should the coming year be lean in this regard, a contin
gency which is hardly possible for the country at large, there would
be no great reaction on that account. There is hardly a possibility
but that we will be able to produce all which we will require for
home consumption both of food and ilothing
Capital and Labor in the United States have reached a basis of
understanding which practically eliminates the possibility of large
industrial disturbances in future. The man with money must have
the men who labor, and history has taught both that one is useless
without the other. The employer of today does not regard labor
as a chattel which shall be bought at the lowest possible price, while
labor has learned to be more appreciative of the men who supply
the money. This condition is due almost entirely to the work of
labor organizations and to the men who, many years ago, under
took first to show labor wdiat is its due and through following years
worked out the present system of mutual understanding which is
proving so satisfactory, to the employer and employe alike.
The prosperity of the American people of all classes during the
next year, and during many years to come, appears to be assured.
The country is entirely self-sustaining, and regardless of the con
tinuation of the war, we will suffer little inconvenience and less
loss so long as our country is not involved in external difficulties.
It appears to be the plain duty of each American, regardless of
nationality, to be purely American, absolutely neutral and without
regard to partisan politics, to accord the most determined support
to the National Government in its efforts to keep our country free
of foreign entanglements.
American labor never occupied ,so advantageous a position as
that which it holds today. The fear of cheap European competition,
either in labor or the products of labor, appears to be mythical in
the extreme. Our present supply of labor will be taxed to the limit
to keep up with the demand for our products, and European labor
will be needed at home during the ten years following a restoration
of peace, and will be able to produce little which can be spared by
the various countries.
Let each American workman pull for peace in Europe, if he can
do so without taking sides or drawing this country into the conflict
which has engulfed our brothers over the sea; but while deploring
the conditions existing over there, let no man fail to remember that
we would not be of material assistance to either side unless we com
pletely destroy the great business which is now coming to us, and
even then we could hardly hope to bring relief to those who arc
suffering most the men at the front and the women and children
at home.
Let us all work most earnestly in an honest effort to take full
advantage of the conditions which now confront the world. If noth
ing now unforeseen occurs, American labor is now entering upon its
greatest era of prosperity; a prosperity which will continue long
after the year 1916 has passed into history and after Europe has re
sumed normal conditions. The days of cheap European labor and
European competition have passed, and will not return during the
next twenty-live years, if ever.
GOOD-BYE, MR. HOLMES.
With the retirement of John K. Holmes from the Directorship
of the City Safety Department at noon, January 1st, the city will
lose the services of one of the most valuable and at the same time
modest and unobtrusive men who ever entered public life in Cincinnati.
Mr. Holmes has proven to be one of the most efficient public
officials in the history of our city, and his place will be bard to fill.
He leaves the public service with the good will of every man who
has the re.'d interest of the city at heart.
DR. HARMON THINKS LONGVIEW IS ALL RIGHT.
Superintendent Frank M. Harmon of Longview Insane Asylum
is reported to have protested against the report of committee sent
down fioin Columbus to investigate the affairs of that semi-penal
institution. There is little wonder that Mr. Harmon should pro
test, but it is only fair to serve notice that the people are begin
ning to realize that this hospital for the weak-minded of the county
is but a prison for those who are unfortunate. Mr. Harmon will do
well to take the people into his confidence, as these same people
can not be fooled all the time.
NO POLITICS WITH FRIEDLANDER.
The announcement of Mr. Fricdlander, the new Director of
Public Safety, that he will retain Chiefs Copelan and Hunker in
their present positions at the heads of the Police and Fire Depart
ments, shows sound judgment on the part of Mr. Fricdlander, and
justifies the opinion already formed that the new Director is not
going to allow politics to play any part in his administration.
WE SHOULD WORRY.
Once again it is reported from Amsterdam that the Kaiser is a
very sick man. Heme, Switzerland, reports Prince Von Buelow
as being engaged in establishing a world-wide demand for peace,
and King Alfonso as having declined to join the triple entente. From
Rome comes the report that the Pope has refused to allow his great
influence to be used in any but a moral way, and from Hot Springs
conies the report that President Wilson is "incommunicado." What
next, O Lord, what next!
I lotel clerks, in their convention now being held in this city,
have decided to "have the law" on deadbeats. If this rule is en
forced, it will result in the immediate imprisonment of at least
twenty-five per cent of the membership.
A 10 Bill
Installs
Gas in Your
Furnace
We know you will enjoy its
heat, convenience, and cleanli
ness, therefor make you this
LIBERAL OFFER
Should you for any cause
become dissatisfied by Feb. 1st,
101C, we will remove the con
nections and give you back
your TEN.
Union Gas and
Electric Co.
Fourth and Plum Sts.
MEDALLION
WHISKEY
Capital $1,000,000 Resource! oyer $5,000,000
Second National Bank
Ninth and Main Streets
3 Percent Interest on SaUngs
BECKER BROS. CO.
INCORIORATF!)
Alain Store and Office: 942 Monmouth
Street, Newport, Ky.
l'honcs: South S957, 1109
Manu
facturers of
all Kinds
of
Sausages
COVINGTON STORE!
i 1018 Madison Ate Phono. South 3W4
NEWPORT BRANCH:
S E Cor 7th and Palttrson Sis Phone, South 2619 Y
203 W. 6th Street CINCINNATI, O.
'honc, Canal SOU, 5012
Another Ford Peace delegate has fallen by the wayside, and
Mrs. Inez Milholland BoKsevain, of New York City, has declared
the entire thing a failure and withdrawn from further participation.
Telephones, Canal 4395 anil -13'JO
RICHTER & CO.
MANUFACTURERS Or
SUPERIOR BRASS GOODS
2 0 E. Ninth St. Cincinnati, 0.
Union-Made HATS
Rielag
1120 Main Street
USi: JOHNSTON'S DULL. KOTK
PAINT. It dries perfectly flat without
lustre, washed and cleaned like tile.
Color folder free. Bit) it from our
dealer, or
Till: It. I JOHNSTON PAINT CO.,
IViii'I ami Main .Sts., Cincinnati, O.
IIIGIlUt VA(2i:S FOIt
.MACHINISTS.
Cincinnati I he brewers' hoard of
trade has raf-ul wages 'm cents an hour
for all machinists employed in local
breweries affiliated to the board. The
old agreement expired August 14 and
the new rate will applj from that date.