The Washington herald., 1914-03-08
SOCIAL PEACE IS
AIM OF EXPERTS
U. S. Commission on Indus
trial Relations Will Visit
important Centers.
"OPEN MIND" Is SLOGAN
Will Not Butt in" in Local Affairs.
but Seek Way Out of Bitter
ness and Strife.
"OPEN MIND" IS SLOGAN

Public hearings In important industrial
ccnters from New York to San Francisco
Will be held durinc; the spring and early
summer by the United States Commission
on Industrial Relations.
This announcement was made by
Frank P. Walsh, chairman of the COM
mission. The hearings. said Mr.. Walsh,
viii embrace in their scope all the main
divisions Of the inquiry directed by Con-
gress.
Among the c:,ies that probably will be
visited are New York. Philadelphia. Bos-
ton, Paterson. Scranton, Pittsburgh,
Buffalo. Wheeling. Charlotte. Greenville.
Atlanta, Birmingham, Nashville, Louis
vile, New Orleans, Detroit. Indianapolis.
Cleveland. Chicago. HouGhton, Milwau-
kee, Madison. st. Louis. Kansas City. st.
Paul. Denver, Trinidad. Dallas Houston
or Galveston, ] os Ani ,les. San Francis
CO, Seattle, Butte, and Lead
VIII Hear Witnesses.
Through examination Of witnesses COM
petent to speak for employers. trades
unions. other labor organizations. unor-
Ganized employees and the general pub
liz. the commission hopes to obtain in
formation concerning :he industrial sit
uation that will lead % constructive rec
ommendationc.
Some of the ,ubjects to be inquired into
in each city are irregularity Of employ
and increasing pro, .ction through scien-
tihc management. the activities Of trades
unions and employers associations. and
the extent and operation of governmental
machinery for regulating the conditions
of industry. including the relations be-
tween employers and employees
Harmony Their Aim.
Successful methods Of maintaining har-
monious relations beneficial to both en-
f..Nr.
particularly. with a view to their adop-
ton in other centers where no such
methods have been tried.
Eminent authorities in subjects to be
included within the scLpe of the inquiry
have Joined the staff of the commits
sion and are now aiding in planning the
hearings.
Witnesses desired by the commission
will be summoned under the authority
granted it by Congress. and volunteer
testimony will be welcomed.
Announcing The plan for hearings.
Chairman Walls said:
The commission will carefully avoid
acting as a board of mediation and con-
ciliation. and will not allow itself to be
drawn into local controversies or recog-
Tize such controversies unless in doing
so il can obtain information that has
more than local and temporary signific-
ance.
All to Have nearing
Every interest will be given a hear
ing. The commission will strive to put
aside all bias and prejudice. 1t will urge
others to do the same. in the hope that
tho industrial problem may be studied
in the light of reason.
The open minC will lie our watchword,
and we shall endeavor % provide a forum
where men represe..t ting all factions can
meet in the common purpose of finding
a way out from bitterness and strife. To
accomplish this we shall need the CO.
operation and help Cf IL concerned We
shall ask those N:h1 meet with us at the
hearings to come not az employers or
employees. but as men belonging to the
same human family.
THE hearings are TO be undertaken as
one means Of carrying out the instruc-
tions of Congress to inquire into the in
dustriaI situation and to report our con-
cIusions and recor' nendations.
Invite Citizens' Aid.
THE commission wishes. in particular,
10 invite the help Of every person who
has constructive :"-Tgestion. Such suS-
cestions will be especially welcome when
they are supplemented by testimony as
u the successful carrying out OF the
ideas they embody.
According to present plans the hearings
will begin the latter part Of March