New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-25
Would Aid in Remedying
Industrial Evils, Says
Federal Commission.
WORKERS SHARE
OF WEALTH UNFAIR
Telegraph, Telephone and Pull
man Companies Assailed-Anti-
Tipping Law Favored.
tB7 Telegraph to The Tibuns,i

Chicago, Aug. 24.--Votes for women
;s named in the second section OF the
Industrial Relations Commissions
main report. made public here to-day
ss one of the great remedies for the
pnwbolesome industrial conditions
found in the commissions investiga-
tions Of the cause of social unrest.
The leading feature of the report IS
sketch Of living and working condi-
,ions prevailing in American industry
narticularlv as affecting women and
children. and it is this evil aspect OF
the situation for which woman suffrage
is proposed as one means to bring
about improvements.
The crux of the whole matter Is, the
report asserts. that the workers have
not received their fair share OF the
enormous increase in the wealth of the
country during the last quarter cen
fury. Figures are given showing that
this increase has been from 90 10 lo'
billions. or 1873 per cent. whereas the
aggregate income Of wage earners has
risen only IS per cent.
Al least one-third. and possibly one
fourth. Of the wage earners IN manu-
featuring and mining. the report states,
are in poverty. The income Of almost
two-tbirds Of the 1925 families in
Lasic industries investigated was less
than $3.50 a year. and less than $500 for
a third. while the very least that would
suffice for the average family was
found 70 be 500 a year. Seventy
eieb, per cent of the fathers earned
less than $500, the rest coming from
the labor Of the women and children
in the family.
Pauper Burial for Many.
DESPITE the "repugnance of all
classes Of wage earners Of all races to
pauper burial" being so great that
everything will be sacrificed and heavy
debts incurred TO avoid it. It was
found, nevertheless, that in New York
City one out of every twelve bodies is
buried at public expense or turned over
70 physicians for dissection.
As 10 the effect of low wages on the
children, the report saws it has been
proved that there is a direct relation
between poverty and the death rate
Of babies" it being shown in Johns
town. Penn. that "the babies whose
fathers earned less than SO a week
died at the appalling rate of 256 per
1000 during the first year. On the
other hand, those whose fathers
earned more than s25 a week died at
the rate of only "a per 1000"
Other figures given are that in six
Of the largest cities II TO 20 per cent
Of the children are noticeably under
fed: that in four industrial towns
studied rs per cent quit school before
the seventh grade, and that in the
families Of the workers 81 per cent
Of the mothers are at work and there
fore unable TO give their children more
than scant attention.
"As a picture Of American industry"
says the report, "this presentation is
undeniably gloomy and depressing, but
American labor conditions it is true
and exact"
Increase in Tenant Farmers.
Passing from manufacturing to farm
ing. an equally unhappy picture is
drawn, having TO do chiefly with ten
ancy the rapid growth of which is
described as "the most alarming fact
in American agriculture" In 1910,
the report says. there were thirty
seven tenant operated farms per 100,
as compared with only 2S in 1890. an
increase Of 80 per cent in twenty
years.
Owing TO the oppressive methods of
absentee owners in squeezing the last
cent out of their tenants, il is declared
mat their condition is pitiable. every
member Of the family being forced to
toll 10 exc out a bare existence. pre-
venting the children from going to
School. Federal regulation of dealings
between tenant and owner is pro-
posed
In speaking of the organization of
corporations by which the great pre-
ponderance oil wage earners are en-
ployed, II is pointed out that the stock
holderS really have nothing TO do with
administration; the board of directors
is out of touch and sympathy with
the situation. while the real admins
tative work. controlling the wages
and lives of the workers. falls upon
lald managers. .ewho arc driven by the
demand from above for dividends to
keep down the price of labor and all
expenses connected with il.
Organization by labor is the only
means 10 meet this, the report states.
lie minimum income of every worker,
Continued on page 4. column 3