Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-12-09
PROBE INDUSTRIAL
UNREST OF CITIES
United States Body Makes Re-
port of Findings.
NO CONCLUSIONS ARE MADE
Commission Summarizes the Testi-
mony of Five Hundred Witnesses
Taken at Hearing Held in
Many Large Cities.

Washington, Dec. 7-Reasons for
the present industrial unrest consti-
tute the chief feature of the first an
nual report of the United States COM
on industrial relations, made
public here today. The commission
states no conclusions, but simply sum-
marizes the testimony Of five hundred
witnesses taken at hearings in Wash
In gton, New York, Paterson, Philadei-
phia, Boston, Chicago, Lead, s. D.;
Butte, Mont; Seattle, Portland, Ore;
San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The report first gives the causes OF
Industrial unrest generally agreed up
on by the representatives of employ
ers and the representatives Of en-
ployees; second, the causes advanced
by the employers; and, third, the
causes advanced by the employees.
Generally Accepted Causes.
Those causes generally agreed upon
are found to be as follows:
Largely a worldwide movement
arising from a laudable desire for bet
ter living conditions. Advanced by
of labor, socialists and
employers and generally endorsed.
A protest against low wages, long
hours and improper working condt
tons in many industries. Advanced
by practically all labor representatives
and assented to by many employers.
A desire on the part Of the workers
for a voice in the determination of
conditions under which they labor,
and a revolt against arbitrary treat
ment of individual workers and sup
preston of organization. This was al
most uniformly approved by labor wit
nesses.
Unemployment and the insecurity Of
employment Generally advanced by
witnesses from every standpoint.
Unjust distribution of the products
of industry. Advanced by most labor
representatives and agreed to by most
employers.
misunderstanding and prejudice.
Agreed to by employers and en-
ployees.
Agitation and agitators. Generally
advanced by employers, but defended
by labor representative and others as
a necessary means of education.
The rapid rise in prices as compared
with wages
The rapidly growing feeling that re-
dress for injuries and oppression can
not be secured through existing insti-
tutions
'In addition" says the report. ut
has been stated by manv witnesses
that the tremendous immigration of
the last quarter century. while not it.
self a direct cause of unrest, has
served to accentuate the conditions
arising from other causes, by creating
an oversupply of labor unfamiliar with
American customs, language and con-
ditions."
Mediation Is Approved.
Regarding mediation and abitra-
ton, says the report, expert witnesses
from both sides have unanimously en-
dorsed the general proposition that
mediation should be used to the great
SOl pOSOlOlS SAlSnI anu do CARLY do
possible in the settlement of disputes,
and that the machinery for prompt
and impartial arbitration should be
developed as a method of securing
peaceful settlement where mediation
and Cancellation fail
Practically every Witness" says the
report, has expressed the strongest
disapproval of any form of compulsory
Arbitration was suggested
only as a last resort and then to be
purely voluntary.
There was practically unanimous
agreement among the witnesses that
the formation of federal commission
of mediation and Cancellation, COM
posed Of representative employers and
employees, would be a desirable step
toward the establishment of industrial
peace and the protection of the nation
from the damage resulting from pro-
tracted strikes and lockouts with which
the individual states seem incapable
of dealing"