Show i LOOKING J AHEAD BY BY sr GEORGE GEORGES S. S BENSON fit College c 4 Scatty Searcy Wages and Baskets A real basket of food according to the American Federation of Labor Labor Labor La La- bor is a good unit to use in measuring measuring measuring meas meas- income That is how many baskets of food will your wages buy The Federations Federation's Monthly Survey for July has put together some interesting figures comparing wages in America in 1940 with wages in Europe in 1940 These figures figures figures fig fig- ures are in terms of baskets containing containing containing con con- items for adequate nourishment nourish nourish- ment An American family of five would need about four of these baskets baskets baskets bas bas- a day One hours hour's work by a factory worker in the United States in 1940 according to the A. A F. F of L. L would buy baskets In Britain an hour of work would buy baskets In France in Germany in Italy 65 and in Russia only 40 This means that the American worker could buy with his wages seven times as much food as a Russian Russian Russian Rus Rus- sian could with his in 1940 Measure of Freedom Th These se figures are in keeping with personal observations in Europe in 1936 and again in 1946 The amount of food a worker could buy with his hip hi wages wa was in direct proportion to the amount of freedom that a worker work work- er enjoyed in his own country Russia Russia Rus Russia sia had the least individual freedom freedom freedom free free- dom and the lowest wages America America America Amer Amer- ica had the most freedom and the highest wages More than 20 years of Communism Communism Communism in Russia under a totalitarian state which owns and operates the tools of production has failed to change the ratio in comparison with America The Monthly Survey is right when it comments that history history history his his- tory has proved that free enterprise enterprise enter enter- prise pris under a democratic form of government provides the highest living standards for workers Workers are becoming coming b aware that their best opportunities lie in preserving preserving preserving pre pre- serving individual opportunity opportunity- freedom to own property and to create create create cre cre- ate and operate an industry or business Threats Today I fear however that the American American American Amer Amer- ican public does not understand some of the threats being made upon this very essential factor in J n T i th me un e A mer item can way W Y ui Ul IUt me i 1 am interested in seeing industry pay the highest possible wages America America America Amer Amer- ica must continue to provide the best for the most But I sea seo dangers dangers dangers dan dan- gers threatening the very things that enable Americans to buy more baskets of food than the workers of any land 1 High taxes are cutting oil ofT investment investment investment in in- vestment of new venture capital This will prevent expansion and growth New tools and new industries industries industries indus indus- tries will not be available to provide jobs 2 An extravagant federal budget continues to spend and to create in in- This restrains men from venturing and investing 3 Industrial relations are un un- un- un steady This instability again makes capital afraid to venture Way Vay to Confidence I Taxes must be lowered enough that the ordinary man can keep a larger percentage of his earni earnings gs and so that men will be inspired to invest and venture into business enterprise We Ve need to overhaul the federal budget to get rid of wasteful and inflationary government government government govern govern- ment spending We Ve need firm but friendly industrial relations If these things were achieved they could do much to preserve the essential ingredient of our system of high wages and high standards of living in this land of the free o 0 Mrs 1 John Moffitt of Provo has been beeri visiting with friends and relatives in hi Manti for the past while She has been a guest of Mr 1 and Mrs Fred FredD D D. Smyth during her visit here |