Vagabond Editorials

Bv Jack Dionne

On July 25th William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, gave the press a very wise and practical interview on the subject of lumber. He recommended very strongly that this nation negotiate additional trade agreements with friendly nations in an effort to boost lumber exports, and therefore promote employment in the United States. Mr. Green is one of those men in Washington who well understands that permanent jobs in gainful industry is our only hope for permanent recovery, and that while our lending and spending program is going on, we must be building some solid foundations to prevent another collapse when the money runs out.

His suggestions at this time are entirely sound. He calls attention to the fact that on June 23, 1938, Japan further restricted the use of various imports she has been getting from this country, including lumber. "This action," says Mr. Green, "will result in further curtailment of West Coast lumber exports, which have dropped 63 per cent in the last ten years, resulting in reduced payrolls and increased unemployment." Mr. Green could well have added that it also results in increased competition in domestic markets by forcing lumber into home markets that always used to go abroad. *:f:f

Mr. Green says further: "Compared to 1929, the West Coast industry alone, which has been called 'fundamentally an export industry'has been losing one billion feet in export trade. This means an annual loss to the region of more than $12.0O0,000 in lumber wages. In the West Coast industry production breaks down to an average of 500 feet per man per eight hours. The average wage in that industry at present is 77 cents per hour. One billion feet of lumber represents 2,000,0O0 days, or 16,000,000 hours of work, or $12,320,000 in wages to lumber workers, and this huge sum includes only wages lost in one section of the countrywide lumber industry."

The remarks of Mr. or"]" *"t*", be made a page in a book entitled "What's Happened To Lumber." If it proves possible to negotiate and create trade agreements with other countries that would re-create our export lumber markets, particularly those of the West Coast, it would do more per- manent good to the industry than almost any amount of domestic lending to promote building. And the suggestion coming from Mr. Green will be more effective by far than had it come from lumber sources. rtr&*

A national economic writer says that the best sign of returning prosperity he has been able to discover in New York City is the almost wholesale repairing of typewriters that is being done of late. When big corporations reduce forces, typewriters go up on the shelves for storage. When they begin hiring again, down come the typewriters. And before they go into use they usually go through the hands of the repair and condition man. Not a bad barorneter.

*rt*

This is in no sense a criticism. It's just a query. Continually I read in the best newspapers polls on affairs of the hour, chiefly political, by the American Institute of Public Opinion. These polls are evidently received with much respect, and given preferential space in the newspapers. Since I have never received or seen a ballot from this organization, I got to wondering who votes. So I got into the habit of asking the people I contact-and I contact lots of people-if they have ever received such a ballot; or if not, if they know anyone who has. So far the vote is all No. f have never seen such a ballot, and no one I ask seems to have done so. Who votes?

***

There is such a thing as using brains in handling a strike situation. The employes of a lumber concern f know, went on strike, and put a heavy picket line around the plant. The head of the concenr treated these striking employes with every evidence of good will. A large number of them owed the concern money for materials they had bought, which they were paying in installments out of their envelopes. When they got their pay envelopes for the last days they worked, they found that the boss had taken nothing on their debit account. There was a little note calling each debtor's attention to this fact, stating they would need all their pay, and that therefore nothing would be deducted until they got back on the regular payroll. This and other little courtesies-many of them-kept good feeling between the men and their employer, and had much to do with shortening the strike.

The American Association of Investors, after going over the accounts of 150 corporations, came to some very interesting conclusions based on the figures they found, particularly concerning taxation at present, and its relationship to all the affairs of business. These 150 corporations have 6,(X)O,(XX) stockholders, and assets of $41,000,000,0O0. In 1937 these corporations paid a Federal tax bill totalling $1,600,000,000. This was equivalent to $2.62 per share of stock. The dividends of these corporations averaged $1.95 per share of stock. These taxes per stockholder averaged $291, and per employe they averaged S514. Which is just a reason or so why some wag in the recent Congress suggested that if they really wanted to help business they would agree to let Government take the dividends, and let business keep the tax money. **,t

I hate to think that I live in an age when I can't safely or sanely pick up a wayfarer along the highway and give him a ride, when I have plenty of vacant space in my car. But the tremendous rise in hitch-hiker criminality convinces me that only the foolhardy can afford to pick up either man or woman in these times.'Seventeen states have legislated against hitch-hiking, with no very successful results. The trouble lies with soft-hearted human beings who can't bear to pass 'em by. And so nearly every day, somewhere in this country, one of these good Samaritans is relieved of his money, or his life, or both, by the pick-up. ***

.In spite of the horrors retailed in the newspapers of the dangers of picking up hitch-hikers, plenty of motorists are still in the habit of doing so. The Kansas City Star conducted a survey in its territory to discover how motorists feel about it, with the amazing result that only 57 per cent of the motorists voting were against the practice of picking people up along the road; 43 per cent, or nearly half, were either in favor of it, or at least not opposed. So long as there are drivers who will pick them up, there will be plenty or hitch-hikers; and so long as they pick them up there will be plenty of tragedy connected with the habit.

Now we are going.o ,rJ" .l.lr""r"* picture industry an investigation to see how much it is infringing on the antimonoply clauses of the anti-trust laws. Which may result in some changes in the distribution set-up. It won't help Mr. John Public at all, because it won't change his situation. The only way you can help him is to do something drastic to cut down the COST of moving pictures, thereby cutting down the toll at the ticket window. That's what Mr. John Public is interested in, and that's where he is being gouged. If something could be done to put movie salaries on the same basis and the same plane with salaries in other industries for jobs requiring like intelligence and ability, you