The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-06-23
Philadelphia Merchant Prince
Interesting Witness Before
Industrial Commission /;
Frankly Gives Views.
GOVERNMENT SHOULD
OWN PUBLIC UTILITIES
Believes Prejudice and Misun-
derstanding Between Capt.
tai and Labor can be Elimi-
mated; Advocate of s Hour
Day.
nv Leased Wire to Evening Herald

fBy Leased Wire 10 Evening Bcrald.l
Philadelphia. June 23.-'its an In
sane thing not 90 recognize organlza-
tious Of labor" said John wanamaN-
er today. IN giving further testimony
before the United States commission
on Industrial relations. lie made this
statement In reply to question
whether employees should recognize
labor unions. on the general qucs-
ton OF unionism, Nir. wanamaker
said he believed labor had suffered
frightsully" in the past because OF
poor leaders. but added that he is set
ing better class OF leadership com
ing In.
Commissioner We Istock OF Cali
fornia. who presided today. asked the
witness u nc could supply the miss
ing link that would bring capital aud
labor together.
SIR. wsnamaker said: II believe
that laoor and csplt,a have the right
10 organize. on the one eide. capital.
there Is responsibility and on the
other. labor. there IL none. There you
stop. The misslag link 1 believe TO
be prejudice and Misunderstanding
which must ho overcome.
"One OF the ways Ia wipe out this
prejudice and Misunderstanding is TO
unhitch labor unions from political
parties"
Speaking OF capital. Mr Wanamak-
made a great mls.ake when he nut
sending troops into Colorado.
II might be mistaken in this" he
said. but that Is the was I feel abOut
IT,"
Contact with the employees is a rem
edy for much misundersiHnding, tho
witness said
There are labor unions which have
no other purpose than To protect their
wages" he said. "Men who spend
their time setting their salaries raised
generally fsii"
Commissioners Lennon 81 Illinois
aud o'ConnelI OF Washington. who
are the representatives of the wOr&-
men on the commission. piled MI.
Wanamaker with many questions.
Asked whether he was an advocate of
the eight-hour day he replied:
Eight hours or less"
ON the question of minimum wage
| FOR women. the witness said that ss
an experiment Il should not be CON
demncd.
Discussing public ownership az q
means 10 reduce industrial strife. Ar.
wanamaker said he was AN absolute
believer In government ownership
of public utilities Il believe the
government should own the rail
roads. he said. 1T would prevent
! conditions that have existed In the
| New Haven road and la the Rock Isl
and system. Government ownership
would bring one cent postage because
the government owned the means foi
carrying THE malls
Tho witness painted rosy feature
| for the Vorkingman. MEN ald WON
en- are in a rising market thoy ar'
/ being better educated, have more san
| itary surroundings. and are no longei
mats for rich men 70 wipe their feet
on" he said.
DuTing the discussion OF publi'
! ownership of utilities Cummissionel
Weinsock dropped the remark tina
the commission viii. in drawing al
ns recommendation To congress
! consider the wisdom of advocatinl
| public ownership of utilities as
means Of reducing strife between th'
employer and emplOyes OF public
! utilities