The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1912-02-08


relations of employer and employs
and o careful and discriminating scru-
tiny 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. i'll.
opportune Time for investigation.
The special Investigations that have
been made of recent industrial condi-
tions, whether private or official, have
been fragmentary, incomplete, and at
best only partially representative or
typical. Their lessons, nevertheless,
are important, and until something
comprehensive and adequate Is avail
able they serve a useful purpose, and
they will necessarily continue to be
made But unquestionably the time Is
now ripe for searching inquiry into
the subject of industrial relations
which shall be official authoritative,
balanced, and well rounded, such as
'cessfully undertake. The present wide
spread interest in the subject makes
this an opportune time for an investi.
cation, which in any event osn not
long be postponed. 1t should be non
partisan, comprehensive, thorough, pa
tient, and courageous.
One essential part Of the proposed
inquiry would naturally be to as
semble, digest, and interpret informa-
ton so far as it bears upon our pres.
ent Industrial conditions. In addition
to this the commission should inquire
7 into the general conditions of labor in
our principal industries, into the exist
ing relations between employers and
employees in those industries, into the
various methods which have been
| tried for maintaining mutually salts
| factory relations between employees
and employers and for avoiding or
adjusting trade disputes, and into the
scope, methods and resources Of fed
eral and state bureaus of labor and
the methods by which they might
more adequately meet the responsible
ties which, through the work of the
commission above recommended,
would be more clearly brought to light
and defined.
Misbranding Imported Goods.
My attention has been called to the
injustice which is done in this country
by the sale of article in the trade
H. IT, nd
when they are not so made, and it is
suggested that the justice of the enact
ment of law which, so far as the jur'
isdiction OF the federal government
can go, would prevent continuance
of this misrepresentation to the pub
lie and fraud upon those who are en-
titled to use the statement in the sale
of their goods. | think it to be great
ly in the interest Of fair dealing, which
ought always to be encouraged by law
for congress to enact law making II
misdemeanor, punishable by fine OF
a imprisonment, to use the mails or ID
put into interstate, commerce any ar
ticles of merchandise which bear upor
their face a statement that they have
been manufactured in some particular
country when the fact is otherwise.
Building for Public Archives.
cannot close this message without
inviting the attention of congress
again to the necessity for the erection
of a building to contain the public
archives. The unsatisfactory distri
button OF records, the lack of any
proper index or guide to their con
tents, Is we'll known to those familiar
with the needs of the government II
this capital The land has been pur
chased and nothing remains now bu
the erection Of a proper buildings.
transmit letter written by Prof
Franklin Jameson, director of the de
! partment of historical research of thu
Carnegie institution of Washington. II
which he speaks upon this subject al
J member of committee appointed
by the executive council Of the Ameri
can Historical association to bring tn,
J matter to the attention of the presi
dent and congress.
WIN. n. TAFT.
The White House, February 2, 1912