Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-05-18
MOVEMENT 70 DRtNo AoouT IN.
vEsroATloh or CONDITIONS
NOT PROGRESSING.
LAroLLErrE MAKES Plea
TO FRIENDS 70 GET susv
Movement Inspired BY Msstamara
Gases Shows Little sisns ct Life,
and Lsbsr Argues For -oths-
Ns~s Of the Day. A
Especial correspondence.l


Washington. Nay 10-Stirre4 up BY
the fact that the movement in congress
for the establishment Of an Industrial
commission on the relations OF capital
and labor has slowed down and Il
showing little sign Of getting far at
this session. Senator LaF0lIette 70 urg-
Ing that friends Of the movement prod,
senators ana representatives into aotiy-
ity.
In . recent article In his weekly pub.
licatton. Senator LaB'olletfe reviews the
situation ~ to the establishment OF
this proposed commission. He recalls
that it was last December when tho
country was shocked by the McNamara
disclosures. These disclosures prompt-
ed large numbers Of the most dis
tinguished social workers and econom-
lists Of the country TO urge on President
Taft the establishment Of q federal
commission on industrial relations. The
purpose Of this proposed commission
was to make careful study Of the whole
industrial situation with especial ref
erence to tho relations Of capital and
labor and seek to work out recommen-
dations Of . practical sort that would
improve these relations and put them
on foundation Of stability ana, as far
as possible, mutual helpfulness instead
Of antagonism.
Needs Are Apparent.
Since the Mcnamara exposures, there
have been a number Of most important
situations arising in the relations of
labor and capital. The difficulty in the
coal fields IL ono Of them. The strike
Of the wooden employees at Lawrence.
Mass. is another. Tho threatened
strike Of the railroad engineers IL an
other and there have been numerous
other difficulties Of importance that
have not attracted the notice OF these
controversies.
At one time. 1t looked as II the need
ed legislation would be hurried thru
without much delay. But the matter II
now dragging and 1t looks much AZ IL
the session would end with nothing
done.
It was Dec. 80 when . prominent
body Of thinking men and women pre-
scented a petition to President Taft ask
ing for an investigation by such COM
mission as is here referred to. Presi-
dent Taft sent a message to congress
Feb. 81 in which he urged that such q
commission be established. He called
the attention Of congress to the need
for new legislation to meet the new
conditions In the industrial world and
to the fact that in the expansion and
growth Of a new order OF things the
laws had broken down with reference
to Industrial relations.
Bills Buried in COMMITTEES.
Eight days later. Senator Borah In
the senate and Congressman Hughes.
of New Jersey in the house introduced
g bill for a commission Of nine persons.
to be called a commission on Industrial
relations and to make final report in
three years with a report the first year
and another the second year on tho
progress Of Its inquiries.
The bills went to committee and for
weeks much interest was currently exc
pressed. But for some time. this in-
terest has Jagged. At neither end Of
the capitol is the proposition being
pressed with energy and now that the
rush incident to the close of the ses-
sion is manifesting Itself, the chances
are not good for action at this session.
Labor 10 lukevwsrss.
The scope Of the proposed investfga-
ton is well indicated by the fact that
the Hughes -Borah bill would require
the commission. Ii addition to inyesti-
eating various phases Of the Industrial
situation. to inquire into "the underiy-
ing cause. Of dissatisfaction In the
Industrial situation"
One of the reasons why the proposed
commission is no nearer establishment
than It is IL the fact that some OF the
prominent leaders of labor are well up-
derstood to be lukewarm on the SUBJ
ject. They say that there has been
enough Of investigation and consequent
delay and that congress should legis-'
late at once However. they do not
object to turning on the light they
say. but welcome It. providing the In.
ausr: be not utilized for purposes Of
delaC - ,-zs5 = ~