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

| by patient and deliberate study in ad
vance, that will meet these constantly
occurring and clearly foreseeable cmer-
gencies, not malScshlft 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 complexlty of
modern Industrial disputes have put
upon some of our statutes and our
present mechanism for adjusting such
! differences-where we can he said to
have any mechanism at ALA strain
they were never intended to bear and
for which they are unsulted. What Is
urgently needed today is re-examlna.
tion of our laws bearing upon the rela.
tions of employer aud employee and
careful and discriminating scrutiny
! of the various plans which are being
tried in several of our own states and
I'm 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
dtions In more than one industry
which have Immediately been recog-
nizcd on all sides as entirely out Of
harmony with accepted American
! standards. 1t Is probable that TO n
great extent the remedies for these
conditions, so far as the remedies in
, volvo legislation, lie in the field OF
state action. But such n comprehen-
slvc inquiry as is necessary to furnish
n 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
I'm other fields which do not lie primar-
lily within the field OF federal lcgisla-
tlon there can be no serious argument
against the proprlety or the wisdom
of an inquiry by the federal govern
ment into the general conditions of
labor IN the United States, notwIth-
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 enlghten and inform
public opinion, which Of itself will
often induce or compel the reform OF
unjust conditions or the abatement OF
unreasonable demands.
The special investigations that have
been made of recent industrial con
/. ditions, whether private or official
have been fragmentary, incomplete
and at best only partially representa-
tive or typical. Their lessons. never
! thecss. are important. and until some
thing comprehensive and adequate Il
available they serve n useful purpose
and they viii necessarily continue e
be made. But unquestionably the time
is now ripe for n searching inquiry
into the subject of Industrial relation,
which shall be official. authoritative
balanced and we'll rounded, such a,
only the federal government can sue
cessfully undertake. The present wide
spread interest I'm the subject makes
this an opportune time for an investi
: cation. which in any event cannot Ions
be postponed It should be nonpar
tlsnn, comprehensive, thorough, pa
tlent and courageous.
There Is already available much I'm
formation on certain aspects of the
subject I'm the reports of the fedora
and state bureaus Of labor and I'm 9th
er official and unofficial publications
One essential part of the proposed in
quiry would naturally be to assemble
digest and interpret this information
so far as 1t bears upon our present in
dustrial conditions. In addition tC
this the commission should inquire into
, the general conditions of labor In oul
principal industries, into the existing
relations between employers and en-
ployees i'm those industries. into the va
rlous methods which have been tried
for maintaining mutually satisfactory
relations between employees and EN-
ployers and for avoiding or adjusting
trade disputes. and into the scope
methods and resources Of federal ant
, state bureaus Of labor and the meth
> ods by which they might more adc
, quately meet the responsibilities which
through the work Of the commission
above recommended would be more
: clearly brought to light and defined,
+ Misbrsnding Imported Goods.
] My attention has been called TO tn,
= injustice which Is done In this countr!
I by the sale OF articles in the trade pur
4 porting TO be made in Ireland, whel
S they are not so made, and IL Is suggest
ed that the justice Of the enactment o
b law which, so far as the jurisdiction
4 of the federal government can 60
r would prevent n continuance Of thi
+ misrepresentation TO the public anC
{ fraud upon those who are entitled {,
Q use the statement in the sale of thei
Q goods. / think 1t to be greatly I'm tn
0 interest OF fair dealing, which ough
}. always to be encouraged by law, TO
y congress to enact law making 1t
= mlsdemeanor punishable by fine or i'm
o prisonment TO use the mails or TO pu
@ into interstate commerce any article