The Socialist and labor star. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1911-1915, 1914-07-17

Chlcago, ILL.,, July l5.--Ihc great
est constructive action ever taken by
organized labor in America in an eff
fort to secure legal recognition of
the right Of the workers to organize
was started here this week By it.
labor for the first time in its history,
will progress from its time worn po-
sition Of defendant before the law and
will take the offensive to prosecute its
case against its oppressors.
The investigation of the Illinois
Central railroad and Harlimar tines
before the Unitpi States Commission
on Industrial Relations, is on. Labor
is gathering the evidence against the
roads. Labor will prosecute TIC case
before the commission. 1t will be Il
great test case in which Labor Wll
show who is to blame for inHuStl ial
discomfort in this country and it's rf-
feet IN public welfare.
The basis of the investigation vii
be the long drawn out struggle he
t1'ecn the Illinois Central AMI Var j.
men Lines and the 81, 900 ;n'uu &;Np
n en- who We're forced out ct their
jobs on September 30, 1911, when the
roads 7cfused ~ recognize tHc e.?S-
TEN federation form Of organization.
Hearings Next Month in Chira2o. -.
Attorney Frank Comcrford Of Chi
cago was selected by the Railway
Employees Department of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, to direct the
gathering of the evidence against the
roads and to present it before the fed
eral commission at the hearing in
Chicago next month.
The Industrial Relations Commits
sion is composed Of nine members APP
pointed by President Wilson and con-
firmcd by congress. Three Of the
members represent organized labor.
James O'ConncIl, president Of the
Metal Trades Department of the Am
erican Federation Of Labor and Jas.
Carreston. president Of the Order Of
Railway Conductors. OF the remain
ing six members, three represent cap
ital and three represent The public.
An appropriation of 100000 has been
set aside or the use Of the commission
which is authorized with the power
of court and is directed to invcSt
gate the cause of industrial discomfort
and its effect upon public welfare.
Great Opportunity Presents Itself
Now is the opportunity for the work
crs to prove that they have reason to
be li;rontcntcd with their present lot,
to prnEe how much they suffer by rca
son of the conditions under which they
are forced to work and live and to
prove who is to blame for these con
ditions. The gathering and prcSrn-
tatiOn of this evidence amounts 10 q
great trial in which organized labor
will be in the position Of the prose
cutor and organized dollars will be
the defendant on trial.
The public-that dimIy defined fac
ton that as yet has not classified itself
in one or the other Of the TWO great
classes, vil2lly interested in the case,
because it too has suffered on account
Of the bitterly contested struggles be-
tween labor and capital. The great
waste in human and dollar values has
had its effect upon business men who
depend for their existence upon the
pay envelopes nf the workers. Dis
turbing mediums and other concerns,
On the pay envelopes of the workers
enjoying the profits Of the middIc-man
depend upon great industrial bee
hives for their own existence and are
forced to close down the bee hive is
unable to operate or perform It's du-
ties on account OF labor difficulties.
These people, the public will be Wit
d!lL lHleitSlcu III III" 'o''''"' i"N-
are anxious to know the reason for
the losses and reductions in bualnes.
This is labor's opportunity to place
the blame for all time.
Evidence Will Prove Labor's Cause.
A great sociological survey mas been
begun to gather the mass Of data that
will be presented TO prove labor's case.
Investigators are being sent out from
Chicago. They VIII cover every inch
of the Illinois Central and Hartman
Lines-25, 900 miles in all. In addi-
49, "a ia o,-ida,,ca ths.r diSe m Al