The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-02-02

! conflict, such as boycotts and black
/ lists. but we leave the situation such
that industrial disputes lead inevitably
/ to a state of Industrial war In which
these are the only weapons left to the
| two combatants. No more clumsy OF
expensive method OF determining the
rate Of wages and the hours and con.
\ ditions of labor could well be devised
/ The successful operation of the Erd.
man act as between interstate railroads
and their employees shows how much
good can be done by proper legislation.
At the moment when the discomforts
and dangers incident to industrial strife
are actually felt by the public there is
usually an outcry for the establishment
Of some tribunal for the immediate set
tlement of the particular dispute, but
what is needed is some system, devised
by patient and deliberate study in adj
vance, that will meet these constantly
occurring and clearly foreseeable emer-
gencies, not makeshift to tide over an
existing crisis. Not during the rain
storm, but in fair weather, should the
leaking roof be examined and re-
paired.
The magnitude and completely of
modern Industrial disputes have put
upon some of our statutes and our
present mechanism for adjusting such
differences-where we can be said to
have any mechanism at ALA strain
they were never intended to bear and
Scr which they are unsuited. What is
urgently needed today is re-examina-
ton of our laws bearing upon the rela-
tons of employer and employee and
\ careful and discriminating scrutiny
Of the various plans which are being
tried In several of our own states and
in other countries. This would seem
to be the first natural step In bringing
about an adjustment of these relations
better suited to the newer conditions
OF industry.
Numerous special Investigations, Of
fetal and unofficial, have revealed con-
ditions in more than one industry
which have Immediately been recog-
nized on all sides as entirely out of
harmony with accepted American
standards. II is probable that TO
great extent the remedies for these
conditions, so far as the remedies In
volve legislation. lie in the field of
state action. But such a comprehen-
sive inquiry as is necessary to furnish
basis for intelligent action must be
undertaken on national initiative and
must be nation wide in its scope In
view of the results that have followed
the activities OF the federal govern
ment in education. In agriculture and
in other fields which do not lie prlmar-
lily within the field of federal legisla-
ton there can be no serious argument
against the propriety or the wisdom
of an inquiry by the federal govern
ment into the general conditions of
labor in the United States, notwith-
the fact that some of the
remedies will lie with the separate
states or even entirely outside the
sphere of governmental activity In the
hands of private individuals and of
voluntary agencies. One legitimate |
object of such an official investigation |
and report is to enlighten and inform
public opinion, which of itself will /
often induce or compel the reform OF l
unjust conditions or the abatement OF !
demandssi
The special investigations that have
been made of recent industrial con- /