The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-02-02

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cesslties of life. There is no doubt but
that a commission could be appointed
of such unprecedented and impartial per.
sons, experts in investigation OF eco
nomic facts, that u great deal of very
valuable light could be shed upon the
reasons for the high prices that have so
distressed the people of the world and
information given upon which action
might be taken to reduce the cost of
living. The very satisfactory report
of the railway stock and bonds com
mission indicates how useful an inves-
| tigation of this Kind can be when I'M
dertaken by men who have had ade-
Uuate experience in economic inquiries
! and q levelheadedness and judgment
| correctly to apply sound principles TO
the facts found.
For some years past the high and
steadily increasing cost of living has
been matter of such grave public con-
Germ that l deem 1t of great public in
terest that an international confer
ence be proposed at this time for the
purpose of preparing plans. TO be sub
mitted TO the various governments. for
an international inquiry into the high
cost of living. its extent causes. ef-
fects and possible remedies. there
fore recommend that TO enable the
president TO invite foreign govern
ments to such conference, to be held
at washington or elsewhere. the con
I gress provide an appropriation, not to
exceed $4,000. to defray the expenses
of preparation and of participation by
the United States.
The numerous investigations on the
subject, official or other, already made
in various countries tsuch as Austria.
Belgium, Canada. Denmark. France,
Germany. Great Britain. Italy, the
Netherlands and the United Statcs)
have themselves strongly demonstrate
cd the need of further study of world
wide scope Those who have conduct
cd these investigations have found
that the phenomenon of rising prices
is almost. IL not quite, general through
out the world. but they are baiIled in
the attempt to trace the causes by the
impossbility of making any accurate
international comparisons. This IS be-
cause. in spite of the number of invcs-
legations already made. we are still
without adequate data and because as
yet no two countries estimate their
price levels on the same basis or by
the same methods.
AS already indicated, the preliminary
conference itself would entail com
paratively small expense. and most OF
the subsequent Investigations for which
It would prepare the way could be car.
rled out by existing bureaus In this
, and other governments as part of their
J regular work and would require little
, II any, additional appropriations for
= such bureaus.
Commission on Industrial Relations.
The extraordinary growth Of indus
try in the past two decades and IFS
revolutionary changes have raised new
, and vital questions as to the relations
between employers and wage earners
which have become matters Of press
ing public concern. These questions
have been somewhat obscured by the
profound changes I'm the relations be
tween competing producers and pro
ducers as n class and consumers-iu
other words, by the changes which
among other results. have given rise
to what Is commonly called the trust
problem. The large scale production
characteristic of modern industry
however. involves the one set Of rela
tions no less than the other Any in
terruptlon TO the normal and peaceful
relations between employer and wage
Garner involves public discomfort and
in many cases public disaster. Sucl
Interruptions become. therefore, quite
as much n matter Of public concern as
restraint OF trade or monopoly.
Industrial relations concern the pub
lie for double reason. We are dl
rectly interested in the maintenance OF
peaceful and stable Industrial condl
tlons for the sake OF our own comfort
and well being. but society Is equally
interested in its sovereign civic capac
fly In seeing that our institutions arc
effectively maintaining justice and fail
dealing between any classes OF citizens
= | MuOSc tcOHhlillC luAtitHlH may nttul u
clash. Railway strikes on such scalC
as has recently been witnessed II
France and in England, strike o
coal mine workers such as we hay,
more than once witnessed in this coun
try and such a wholesale relinqulshinl
. of n public service as that of the stree
cleaners recently in New York Illus
trate the serious danger to public wei
being and the inadequacy Of the exist
ing social machinery either to preven
!. such occurrences or 10 adjust them ol
/. any equitable and permanent basil
+ after they have arisen.
! In spite Of the frequency with whlcl
3 we are exposed to these dangers and II
!. spite of the absence OF provision 70
I dealing with them we continue to as
sumo with easy going confidence tina
: in each new case somehow or other TN
1 parties to the dispute will find SOM
T solution which will be agreeable T.
T themselves and consistent with the pul
= lie interest. We all see the grave OF
o jections to strikes and lockouts, how
o ever necessary they may be In oxtrem
y cases, nsd we are ready TO crltlclsc tn