The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-12-19
LABOR Pr OBI EMS
BEFO ORE CON RESS
Continued from page ~

BEFORE CONGRESS
I = Continued from page ~ & s
i has been stated by many witnesses
! that the tremendous immigration has
: accumulated other causes by creating
3 an over supply Of labor unfamiliar
:. with American, customs, language and
= conditions. -.,,..s--~>>:.-. =. -.~> -.
! Asks a Question.
! The commission presents the ques-
: ton:
( rs there need for changes and
: improvements or must new legal ma
$ chinery be devised for the, control
$ of Industry"
The final report and conclusions of
/ the commission will be submitted
next August. ,.-.:. 80. r
! These nine agreed causes were the
result Of the examination Of GA wit
nesses divided as follows: Affiliated
!: with employers, 1871; affiliated with
j labor, 1873: not affiliated with either
group, $50. The witnesses included
seven members of the Industrial
Workers of the World and six So
cialists.. y.
Employers Give Reasons.
Under the caption What Employ
I ers Say the report presents the fol-
j lowing summary Of causes Of un-
! rest: -
| Normal and healthy desire Tor
better living conditions. '>' -.
| Z: misunderstanding and prejudice.
Lack of conception that interests of
labor and capital are Identical" -;
agitation by politicians and ire
sponsibles. 49,"
Unemployment. 70, '';'.''
Unreasonable demands by unions.
T Labor leaders who stir up trouble
to. keep themselves in office and
graft on employers.
Ineficiency Of workers, resulting
In ever increasing cost of living.
"Rapidly increasing completely OF
industry. .,,. =. :
Sudden transition of g. large NUN
Der of foreigners from repression to
freedom, which makes them an easy
prey to labor agitators.
Craze to Get Rich.
Universal desire to get rich quick
Decay of old ideas Of honesty and
thrift
! newspapers.
TOO much organization for com.
bative purposes instead of for co.
operation.
violence in labor troubles.
tSympathetic strikes and jurisdic.
tional disputes.
'<Boycotting and picketing. 80
Burdensome legislation.
'"rhe closed shop, which makes fol
labor monopoly. Financial trrespon.
sibility of labor unions. :.
Employees Have Grievance.
A similar presentation OF the EN-.
ployes' side. is as follows:
Normal and healthy: desire fol
better living.
Protest against low wages, long
hours, fnsan1tary and dangerous con.
ditions in many industries.
Demand for industrial democracy
and revolt: against the suppression
Of organization =. :. .:>s. ~.*.4
Unemployment and the insecurity
of the wage Garner at all times
Unjust distribution of the product
Of Industry. Exploitation of, ! the
nanyb tile favored Few ~ ! & : s.,
/ HUnjust@ attitude 81 police lanid
courts. ,..- ...~....,.:, ~,.,..-....
:; Lenient Law for Rich.
There is one law for the rich, an.
other for the poor - :: *y@s
Immigration and the consequent
over+supply of labor.
"'Double standard,'. which sane.
tons only poor living for the hard.
est manual labor, and luxury for per-
sons who perform no useful service
= -
dividual employees and lack Of ma.
chinery for redressing same.
Control by big Business over in.
dustry and state.
Fear Of those in comfortable posi-.
tons of being driven to poverty by
chinery for redressing them.
sickness, accident Or discharge.
"Inefficiency of workers ON account
of lack Of proper training.
unfair competition from prison
and other exploited labor.
I1dustry's Pace Too Fast.
1.-THE rapid pace of modern indus,
try, which results in accidents and
premature old age.
LACK Of attention to sickness anl
accidents, and the difficulty of oh.
tanning compensation for accidents
under the common law In states with.
out compensation laws.
Arbitrary discharge off, employees
"Blacklisting Of individual en-
ployes.
: Exploitation of women and chill
dren in industry
promotion of violence by gunner
spies and others hired by employers
"Attempt to destroy unionism u,
the pretense of the open shop, ~ =
:: .'Monopolization of land and nat
ural resources. II
: suppression of free speech ant
. right Of peaceful assembly.
Approve Strong Organization.
Il practically: all Of the sexperIS ncAl
: witnesses insisted upon the neeSssif,
, for strong organization Of employer
and employees as a fundamental basil
for" the successful collectiye "a
Ing" says the report. g. ~ e@a IT . Z 4
j. A~b ~.