Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-07
REASONS GIVEN FOR
INDUSTRIAL UNREST
Nine Cardinal Causes Pre-
scented to Congress Today by
Federal Commission.
TAKEN FROM WITNESSES
COVERING YEARS INQUIRY
In Many Instances Employer and
Employe Agree-Low Wages
Bring Protest.

Nine cardinal causes of industrial I'M
rest. most generally agreed upon ny
employers and employees alike, were
presented to Congress today by the
commission on Industrial relations in
it's preliminary report, as follows:
Largely a worldwide movement
arising from a laudable desire for bet
ter living conditions. Advanced by rep
resentatives Of labor. socialists and en-
ployers and generally Endorsed.
"A protest against low wages. long
hours and improper working conditions
In many industries. Advanced by prac-
tically all labor representatives and as
scented to by many employers.
"a desire on the part Of the work
ers for a voice in the determination
Of conditions under which they labor
and 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 Products.
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-
ployes.
Agitation and agitators. Generally
advanced by employers, but defended
by labor representatives and others as
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, 1T has
been stated by many witnesses that
the tremendous immigration of the last
quarter century, while not itself a di-
rect cause of unrest, has served to ac-
centuate the conditions arising from
other causes by creating an Noversup-
ply of labor unfamiliar with American
customs, language and conditions"
Important Question Presented.
While it presents no conclusions.
leaving these for later work, the Com
mission. after more than a YEATS in
vestigation covering all pha seY of in
dustry throughout the country, in which
more than 500 witnesses representing
all relations of capital and Nbor were
examined. presents the question:
rs there need for changes, improve
mentS and adaptions or-must entirely
new legal machinery be devised for the
control of Industry"
The final report and conclusions of
the commission will be submitted next
August, when its mission is concluded
These nine agreed causes were the
result Of the examination of 514 wit
nesses divided in interest as follows:
Affiliated with employers, ISL; afiili-
ated with labor, 1853; not affiliated with
either group, $50. The witnesses in
cluced seven members of the Indus
trial Workers of the World and six
representatives of the socialist party
Say. the report presents the following
summary of causes of unrest:
What Employers Say.
Normal and healthy desire for bet
ter living conditions.
misunderstanding and prejudice
Lack of conception that interests of
both labor and capital are Identical
Agitation by politicians and ire
sponsible agitators.
Unemployment.
"CnreaSonab BILE demands arising from
strength of organization.
Labor leaders who stir up trouble to
keep themselves in Office and to graft
on employers.
"1nefficiency Of workers, resulting in
eVer-tncreasing cost of living.
Rapidly increasing complexity of
industry.
Sudden transition of a large num-
Der OF foreigners from repression to
freedom, which makes them an easy
prey to labor agitators.
Universal craze to get rich uuick
thrift.
INSTRUMENTATION in newspapers.
100 much organization for. com
operation.
violence in labor troubles. --
sympathetic strikes and jurisdic
tlonal disputes.
Boycotting and picketing.
Meddlesome and burdensome lepfs1s
ton
THE closed shop. which makes for
labor monopoly.
Financial irresponsihilty of labor
unions"
The Employees Side.
A similar presentation of the en-
ploye's side is as follows:
Normal and healthy desire for better
living conditions.
Protest against low wages. long
hours, insanitary and dangerous condi-
tions existing in many industries.
Demand for Industrial democracy,
and revolt against the suppression of
organization. .-...
Unemployment and the insecurity
which the wage-earner feels at all
times.
Unjust distribution of the product
Of industry. Exploitation of the many
by the favored few Demand for full
share of production
Unjust attitude of police and courts.
There is one law for the rich, an
other for the poor.
Immigration and the consequent
oversupply Of labor.
Existence of a double Standard