| Show I I I I LAN LANDLORDS LORDS BLOCK BLOCKI DROP IN PRICES I I I I I I L J. J II H. i. i is secretary treasurer I of the National Association of Credit Men Ien the largest commercial organization tion In fri the country He i is acknowledged acknowledged acknowledged edged to be the greatest authority on credit and one of the leading business businessmen siness men of America Here he tells how landlords by maintaining high rents are retarding a return to reasonable prices and blocking a business re re- re covery The The Editor By Ely J. J H. H One of the most Important items in inthe inthe inthe the cost of living today is the very high hith rental which is borne by employer employ employ- er and acl alil alike e The however f feels els the expense more than the employer who usually is able to pay the large su sum demanded should he lie desire to purchase a home Hundreds of thousands of working people cannot cannot can can- not afford to buy homes at present prices When rents are lowered and the cost of housing comes down workers can afford to to take taka a lower wage wae Today we are aro seeing a decline in the I prices rice of commodities but labor has not yet yielded to this necessity One of the chief reasons for the unwillingness unwillingness un un- un- un willingness of labor to accept pt a lower wage is the the- high ligh rental epidemic which has sw pt tho the From coast to coast landlords are demandIng demanding demanding demand demand- ing and getting rentals the like of which they never before had dreamed of TIle pct fact Is Js retarding the reduction of living costs and blocking business recovery While food clothing and other necessities are declining rentals are abnormally and unyieldingly high The landlord is usually willing to take the benefit of lowering prices but seems unwilling to do his part to tomake tomake make maka prices pipes es stable and restore confidence confidence dence by sharing some of the losses The spring pring saw most commodities lower lower lower low low- er than they have been for months but repts were rere soaring High rentals arrest the general genera bu buying power Builders hesitate te to undertake new housing programs from a fear pf the present industrial depression The builder also hesitates to erect new houses at the present labor wage wag The workman is disinclined to take talce a lower lower low low- ower ow- ow er wage when he thinks of the nigh high rental he ho is paying for his home honie He naturally c charges arges the landlord with reaping a harvest The landlord knows the workman cannot better hl his condition There There- is nothing which would sc se quickly produce good feeling throughout through h. h out the nation as for labor to say lay We wi will share some of ot the loss by ing our wage wago to a point where Indus indus- will tries be encouraged and the landlord landlord land land- lord to reduce rentals so that the tho Joss loss may be distributed more equally than now prevails NOW FEAR H. H C. C L. L Should the building m mechanic t take le this action of ot his own initiative we may see a new era In building This in itself will force a decline In rent rent- als ais National laws would then solve the housing problem and deal a de deserved deserved deserved de- de served blow low at the exacting landlords land land- lo lords There are many thousands of lies Hes in this country who would welCome wel wel- come orne an opportunity to get better housing facilities and improve their living standards Thero There are far too many people bunching up i. i e. e living I with other families because of the I high rentals II Many a young man map desires to marry i but fears to take talo the step because he I cannot meet the present costs of livIng liv liv- ing chief of which is t the e expense of renting or bu buying Ing a home Incidentally labor prices can be reduced re re- re duc d 17 per er cent without affecting the purchasing purchasing- power of the wage The laborer realize the part he Is playing in the situation and be willing will will- ing to accept the reduction something reduction something he lie can rebate without any pinch whatever what what- ever and little more besides MUST DO THEIR SHARE The effect o of such sich h an attitude would be tremendous on the nation and much of the Indignation emanatIng ing from those who are also wage- wage earners but did not share In the profits people ground between the upper and lower ower tower millstones of high commo commow cost would cost would subside Workmen men in th the building trades Industries industries In in- in especially should realize the opportunities and th think nl of of nothing else than a return to prosperity through reasonable le living costs in which they might share Let labor do its share now no What this country needs today is an energetic enere building program Such a revival in the buildIng buildIng build build- ing trades and many other lines will prosper A bigger vision is needed by t the e landlord and the workman If it the they fail fall of this vision fall fail to take talce advantage I of thIs tiis opportunity to help L and th their ir they will surely L stew steyr In their own Juice It is the duty of f ever every man to do his part Jart for the nati nation n today ju jQ just t as much as In the period of tho the war yar The clan spirit calls calIs to the p people Prosperity People Prosperity can endure only as yo you live one for fOI all all all nIl for tor one |
