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Show OGDEN MAN'S VIEWS OF HIGH COSTS. In writing to the Hardware World. J. R. Cooper, treasurer ol George A. Lowe company of Ogden, states one of the big problem; involved in the high cost of Imng, when he declares you cannot legislate legis-late labor up and material down. He says: We do not expect any declines in values for some time to come. On account of the high cost of living labor will not be chcapcar than at the present time. With the present high cost of labor the producer cannot reduce his costs. It is the endless chain high cost of living makes high cost of labor, high cost of labor makes high cost of commodities, which in turn makes high cost of living. Labor will not recede from its present demands for higher wages, the manufacturer cannot produce goods and sell below a living margin and exist. You cannot legislate labor up and material ma-terial down, neither can you let labor remain at its present stand-and stand-and and legislate living down, without affecting the basic foundation foun-dation on which labor stands. During the war there was profiteering in many lines of hardware. hard-ware. After the armistice was signed hardware commodities reached a much lower level, virtually eliminating excess profits. We do not think hardware will be cheaper, but will be higher for some time to come. So long as we have high government taxes, high municipal taxes and high freight rates, we are going to have corresponding high cost of living. Selfishness is rampant. With the body politic it is ME with labor it is ME with business it is ME neither God nor Devil have a look-in. Yours very truly, GEORGE A. LOWE COMPANY, J. R. Cooper, Treasurer. |