New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-16
STANDARD OIL
EXPLOITS LABOR,
EXPERTS ASSERT
u. S. Investigators of Bay
Orne Strike Flay Rookie
feIler Policies.
ENORMOUS PROFITS
AND LOWEST PAY
Company Heads Hold Children
Should Be Allowed to Go to
Work Earlier Still.

Chicago. Aug. 15.-The report OF
George T. West and c. T. Chenery,
who investigated the July strike Of
Standard Oil Company employees at
Bayonne, n. j.. for the United States
Commission on Industrial Relations,
was made public tonight by Frank P.
Walsh. chairman of the commission.
The report said, in part, after stating
that the strike was against the Stand
ard Oil Company of New Jersey:
THE company is the most important
of the Standard Oil group, and this
group is the principal contributor to
the wealth. prestige and power of the
largest estate in the country, if not
in the world. that of Mr.. John 4. Rock
efeller, sr., and his Immediate family.
The facts regarding the company's la
bor policies must, therefore. be re-
garded as of special significance be-
cause of the tremendous power WELD
cd by the group of men who control
this industry aud because of their an
nounced Intention 10 enter the held Of
industrial relations with a View to
widening their influence and actively
propagatinc what they deem 10 be the
proper theories and principles that
should govern the relations between
employer and employe."
The following findings of fact are to
he considered in the light Of the fore
going:
Lowest Living Wages Paid.
"The Standard Oil Company Of New
Jersey, although conducting an enor-
mously profitable enterprise pays
wages too low to maintain a family or
a comfortable healthful basis.
1T fixes wages not with relation
to the earnings of the company. but
by taking into consideration wIes
paid by other companies in the same
locality, end then fixing the wage as
low as or lower than the prevailing
ware in that locality.
"In Bayonne il paid common labor
ers less than those Of two companies
whose plants adjoin its refneries. This
is in direct contradiction to the claims
of the company in a statement issued
at 26 Broadway that it always has paid
the prevailing wage or better The
statement of the general manager Of
the company that the interests of other
companies in the same locality are con-
sidered in the fixing of wages constl-
tutes in effect an admission that the
company combines with the poorest and
least generous employers to fix the
wage rate.
"The company maintains settled
policy of refusing to deal with any
labor organization or professional
labor man. and even refuses TO permit
those employees who cannot speak Eng
lish intelligently to engage an attorney
as their spokesman and represent
ative.
The men are made to understand
the report continued, that they must
seek no outside assistance in their
dealings with the management, and
that any show Of independence or any
hint Of compulsion will be vigorously
resented.
"The company has instituted 10 r:a-
chinery by which real or fancied gri
ances may be peacefully and promptly
adjusted. The officials say that any
man has access 10 the general super
intendent, but the employees allege that
thev would be discharged before reach
ing the Office
Child Labor All Right.
General Manager Clifford is not a be-
lever in child labor legislation, and, on
the other hand, thinks children should
be allowed to 90 to work earlier. He
and Mr.. Hennessy apparently have lit
tie respect for the foreign-born men
whose labor produces the company's
earnings, and are proponents OF the
extremely individualistlc and reaction
arv industrial theories discarded by en-
lightened employers and by economists
many years ago"
The strike was broken by Sheriff
Kinkead," the report stated, who hrst
overawed and disorganlzed the strikers
by assaulting and arresting one OF their
leaders and then strengthened his con
troll over them by promising TO use his
influence 70 obtain an increase IN wages
and by arresting thirty OF the armed
guards.
"Sheriff Kinkead's course had the cor
dial approval Of Standard Oil Com,
pany officials, who were thus enabled
to maintain their refusal to make any
concession TO the men until the men
returned to work and had, in effect,
thrown themselves on the bounty of the
comLany," continued the report.
Two DAYS after the men had re-
turned to work the Standard OIL Com
pany announced increases in wages.
These increases were less than those
demanded by the strikers, and the rates
now being paid are still below those
maid by one Of the other companies ad-
ioinil the Standard Oil Company's
plant. if the common labor rate can be
taken as a basis Of comparison.
THE outcome of the strike consu-
tutes a complete victory for the stan
dard Oil Company as to its vital poll
cies. that is, lts refusal TO recognize
or permit collective action or to make
any concession 10 the men except OF It's
own free will and accord
The report gave a long history OF
the strike and of the disorders which
II. II accused the STAN
dard Oil Company af urging the bs-
vonne police 10 keep strikers oil
streets, and asserted that the attempt
10 do so caused the :rst riot on July
90 The arrival Of strike breakers from
New York City on July 2l. was blamed
in the report for a conflict between
the police and strikers.
The arrival Of armed guards was
then recited and il was said that the
strikers attacked the Tidewat,r plant
July % after the guards rad fired on
men and boys who threw stones.
"A few strikers had armed them
selves with cheap aAd Intellectual re-
volyers with which they tutilely re-
turned the deadly fire of Wlnohesters
in the hands Of the guards said the
report. -.-- -. l..
yoted TO A discussion of the use Of
armed guards in strikes, to the stan
dard of living and comparative wages
in Bavonne, and TO correspondence be-
tween the Investigators and the oil