The Washington times., 1912-03-22
LABOR CHIEFS AND
EMPLOYERS URGE
INDUSTRIAL BODY
Noted Men At Hearing Be-
fore House Committee Ask
.. for Commission. ~.

Urging the creation of an industrial
commission, as recommended in a re-
cent message by President Taft, labor
leaders and social workers appeared
today before the House Committee on
Labor In support of the Hughes Borah
bill.
The proposed commission on indus
trial relations would be authorized to
conduct an investigation of the rela-
tions between employers and employees
the causes of industrial unrest, and the
best methods of preventing strikes and
other labor troubles.
The present crisis i'm the anthra cite
coal situation lent additional signfl-
canoe TO the hearing today, and John
Mitchell, former president of the United
Mine Workers of America earnestly
urged the report of the bill Questions
asked by members of the Labor Com
mittee indicate that the bill will re-
ceivc favorable action at its hands.
DIR. Charles +. Neill Commissioner of
Labor. was among the supporters of the
measure. declaring that the industrial
commission could accomplish results
not possible through the Bureau Of
Labor
ANS" 1UlhSl 4CoJlueS.
Defining the federal commission bill
as step in the orderly and rational
means of defining the relation between
government and industry, Edward r.
Devine, of New York, was the first ad-
Vocate
Mr.. Devine said that the law is eff
clent in dealing with the relations of
single individuals with one another, but
that the rapid Development industrialIy
during the last few decades has put
upon the country entirely new situa-
tions, which, to be met, must be made
| the subject of special legislation
Where once we had one man en-
ployinE another, We now have the in
dustrial corporation and a body of or
ganiZed or unorganized workers.
Oppression and a tyrannical assertion
of economic power on the one hand {;
violence and a tyrannical assertion OF
the power of mass action on the other,
are thel Inevitable evils of such a situa-
ton
such situation should not he left
to the chance arbitration Of superior
force. There Is such a thing az social
| justice which may be defined by law
md impartial inquiry. and that it is
incumbent upon the Government to de-
wise ways of insuring such an inquiry
when 1t Is needed.
Mitchell on Stand.
Ohm Mitchell former president of the
| United Mine Workers of America, gave
his unqualified Endorsement to the bill.
| 1T is the next step necessary in OBJ
talring a just industrial peace" he
| said. And II may lead to greater
| factor in the settlement of labor diff
culties-the appointment of several COM
missions. each to have have jurisdic-
ton over some one great industry, like
the steel. and textile. or the mining
| industries.
II am OPT prosed however. to compul-
sorry arbitration. out ! do not regard
| this measure in that light. ] believe
| 1t is the only method of obtaining in
| formation which is necessary bCfc"G
tie question of labor disputes may be
| solved"
Or Neill Commissioner of Labor. de-
| clared that the commission provided
| in the bill would accomplish work
| which the Government Burcauof La
bor could not accomplish. because IT
could express opinions which the Gov
| crnnent officials cannot express He
strongly urged that definite apDroprla-
| tion be made that the work can he In
| telliscntly planned.
| F. r. Nunemacher. president Of the
| National Manufacturers Associat tion
! also indorsed the bill.
Urges It's Passage.
Paul U. Kellogg, Of New York. who
IL also identified with the commission
on Industrial relations, declared that
the issues raised today Jy Industry and
! labor are beyond the power Of isolated
men to solve, and are too great for the
grasp of even party or a faction He
| cited the activities pf the anthra cite
| commission Of 1905. and the employers
| liza bilitv commission, the conservation
commission, and the Interstate Com
| mercc Commission as instances where
national scrutiny Of big interests have