Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-02-02

sons. This is because. IN spite uf the
number Of inNes.igauons already made
we are stiu without adequate data
ana because sa rct no two Countries
estimate their urico levels on the
same basis or hy the Same methods.
As already udlcated. the prcimin-
airy conference itself would entail %
comparatively small expense. and
most Of the Subsequent Investigations
for which 70 would prepare tho way
could he carried out by existing bu-
reaus ia this and other governments
as part Of their regular work. and
would require little, o. any additional
appropriations for such bureaus
Commission ON Industrial Relations.
The extraordinary growth OF indus
try In the past two decades aud its
revolutionary changes have raised new
and Vital questions as 20 the relations
between emnlD, crs and wage carners
which have become matters of press
ing public concern These questions
have been somewhat nbrcurcd bv the
profound changes Ia the relations be-
tween competing producers and pro-
duccrs as class ana consumcrs-in
other words. Dos the changes which,
among other results. have given rise
10 what Is commonly called the trust
problem. The largo-scale production
characteristic OF modern industry.
however, involves the one set of rcla-
tions no less than the other. Any IN
terruptlon 20 the normal and peaceful
relations between employer ana wuge
Garner Involves public discomfort and
m ia "a a.
interruptions, become, Therefore. quite
ms much a matter a. public concern
as restraint Of trade cor monopoly.
Industrial relations concern tho
public for double reason We arc
directly interested Ia the mointcn-
.ance Of peaceful and stable Industrial
conditions for the sake OF our own
comfort and we'll being; but society Is
equally Interested In ils sovereign
civic capacity, IN seeing that our in
situations are effectively maintaining
justice and fair dealing between any
classes OF citizens whose economic
Interests may seem Co clash Railway
strikes On such g scale as has recently
been witnessed IN France aud IN Eng
land. a strike Of coal mine workers
such as We have more tbnn once witt
messed in this country. and such
Wholesale relinquishlng 81 public
service as that of the street cleaners
recently IN New York. illustrate the
serious danger 10 public woU being
ana The inadeduaCy Of the existing so.
cial machinery either to prevent such
occurrences or 70 adjust them ON any
equitable ana permanent basis aftcr
they have arisen
IN spite OF the frequency with which
We are exposed to these dangors and
ln spite os the absence 81 provision
for dealing with them. we continue
20 assume with eas-going confidence
that In each new case somehow or
other. the parties 90 the dispute VIII
find Rorne solution which will he
agreeable 10 themselves ana cor sist-
ent with the public Interest. We an
see the grave objections 90 strikes
and lockouts. however necessary they
may be In extreme cases; and we are
ready TO criticize mo more extreme
phases az the Industrial conflict, such
as boyc0tts and checklists: but we
leave the situation such that indus
trial disputes lead inevitably 90 a
state OF industrial war in which these
are the only weapons left 10 the two
combatants. No more clumsy ar exc
pcnsive method Of determining the
rate of wages and the hours and con-
dltiOns of labor could well be devised.
The successful operation Of the Erd-
man act as between Interstate rail-
roads and their employees shows how
much good can be done by proper
legislation
Al the moment when the digcom-
forts ana dangers incident 90 indus-
trial strife are actually folt by the
public there ie usually an outcry for
the cstahli shmcnt Of some tribunal
for The immediate settlement ~ the
particular dispute. But what is need
ed Is some system. devised by pa
tient and deliberate study In advance.
that viii meet these constantly occur
ring and clearly fOrcseonble emoygon-
cies-not "a makcshift 10 tide over an
existing crisis. Not during The rain.
storm but In fair weathc~ should the
leaking roof be examined ana re-
pairod.
The MAGNITUDE and compicxity Of
modern Industrial disputes have put
upon Some OF our statutes AVID our
. ~ 'f''iih II.N' 'lNNNHAW iNf NHNhNtttH HN' ~
{ differouoes whore we can be said
To have ans mechanism az ALL
strain thol were never intended 90
/ bear and for which they are nsuitod
/ What is ursDntly needed today Is a re-
examination OF our laws bearing upon
/ the relation Of employer ana cmploye
/ and a careful and Discriminating scru-
I tlny OF thg various plans which are
/ being tried In several of our own
states ana In other countries This
would seem 20 be the first natural
step in bringing about AN adjustment
1 % these rrutions better suited "a the
newer conditions Of industry.
Numerous special Investigations, Of
ficial and unofficial, have revealed
condition n more than one industry
which h.. Immediately been recog-
mixed ou aI sides as entirely out Of
harmon With accepted American
standard. It Is probable that 60 %
great extent the remedies for these
condition. 20 far as tho remedies I'M
volye lcs alton, ne in iho field of
state action bat such a comprehon-
sivc inQur aa is necessary 90 furnish
O basis Er Intelligent action must boz
undertake. on national Initiative ana
must b. uaron-wide in its scope. m
al. 81 81