Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-12-07

dinal causes of industrial unrest
most generally agreed upon by en-
ployers and employees alike, were
| presented to Congress today by the
Commission on Industrial Relations
| in its preliminary report, as follows:
! Largely a worldwide movement,
arising from a laudable desire for
better living co5ditions. Advanced
| by representatives of labor, social
lists and employers and generally in
dorsed.
a protest against low wages, long
hours and improper working condi-
tons in many industries. Advanced
| by practically all labor representa-
tives and assented to by many en-
| ployers.
"a desire on the part Of the work.
ers for a voice in the determine
| ton of conditions under which they
labor, and a revolt against arbitrary
treatment of Individual workers and
suppression of organization. This
was almost uniformly approved by
labor witnesses.
Unemployment and the insecurity
of employment Generally advanced
by witnesses from every standpoint.
Unjust distribution of the pro-
ducts 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 agita7ors. General
ly advanced by employers, but de-
Tended by labor representatives and
others as a necessary means OF edu-
cation.
1.-THE rapid rise in prices as COM
pared with wages.
1.-THE rapidly growing feeling that
redress for injuries and oppression
cannot be secured through existing
institutions.
Immigration's Part.
In addition says the report, ''it
has beene stated by many witnesses
that the tremendous Immigration of
the last quarter century, while not
itself a direct cause of unrest, has
served to accentuate the conditions
arising from other causes, by Great
ing an oversupply of labor unfamiliar
with American customs, language
and conditions"
While it presents no conclusions,
leaving those for later work, the COM
mission, after more than a. years in
vestigation. covering all phases of in
dustry throughout the country. in
which not more than 500 witnesses,
representing all relations of capital
and labor. were examined, presents
the question:
rs there need for changes, i'm
proyements and adaptions or must
entirely new legal machinery be de-
vised for the control of industry"
The final report and conclusions OF
the commission will be submitted
next August, when its mission is con-
cluded.
These nine agreed causes were the
result of the examination of 514 wit
nesses, divided in interest as follows:
Affiliated with employers. 1871: af- |
filiated with labor, 1888; not affiliated :
with either group, $50. The witnesses +
included seven members Of the In |
dustrial Workers of the World and |
six representatives of the Socialist |
party.
Under the caption What EN-
ployers Say the report presents the
following summary Of causes of un-
rest:
Normal and healthy desire for bet
ter living conditions. 4
misunderstanding and prejudices.
Lack of conception that interests Of
both labor and capital are Identical"
Agitation by politicians and ir- +
agitators.
Unemployment.
Unreasonable demands arising
from strength OF organization. j
Grating Labor Leaders.
Labor leaders who stir up trouble
to keep themselves in office and to .
graft on employers.
'Inefficiency of workers, resulting |
in ever increasing cost of living. 1
Rapidly increasing complexity of 7
industry.
Sudden transition OF large num-
Der of foreigners from repression to
freedom, which makes them an easy
prey to labor agitators.
Universal craze to get rich quick. |
Decay Of old ideas of honesty and |
thrift.
"Misinformation In newspapers.
TOO much organization for COM |
bative purposes instead of for CO. |
operation.
Violence in labor troubles.
Sympathetic strikes and jurisdic- |
tional disputes.
"Boycotting and picketing.
'Meddlesome and burdensome leg |
islation.
The closed shop, which makes for |
labor monopoly.
Financial Responsibility Of labor
unions
A similar presentation of the EN-
ployes' side is as follows:
Normal and healthy desire for |
better living conditions.
Protest against low wages, long
hours, insanitary and dangerous con-
ditions existing in many industries.
Demand for industrial democracy, |