The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1915-01-14
Chairman OF Industrial Board
Talks of investigation
Soon to Begin.
IS DEMOCRACY PASSING OUT?
1--WE Wish to Learn Where the Wage
Garner Comes in," Declares
Commissioner Walsh.

New YORK, Jan. l2.-frank r.
Walsh. chairman OF the federal com.
mission on industrial relations, today
outlined the purposes of the hearing
which will begin in this city next
Monday.
He declared the commission wishes
ito find out whether or not the prin-
-cples of democracy are being re-
spected and maintained in our great
b.sic INDUSTRIES
In the inquiry many noted men
and wCmen-capitalists, philanthrop.
lists, social workers, labor leaders,
writer's and others-will be wit
nesses.
The Employees eide Of It.
The fundamental principle of de-
mocracy is that the people shall have
a compelling voice in determining the
Jaws and form of government under
which they i've" MIR. Walsh said.
THAT principle is now being applied
to industry and public opinion is
rapidly coming to concede the neces'
sity OF giving wage-earners voice in
determining working conditions ii
they are to enjoy the measure of free
dom which the founders of our colln-
try intended.
1.-THE men who control our greatest
industries are in many instances the
men who are most active in prOmot-
ing philanthropy and social better
I, uDt aside vast
|. sums of money as permanent endoW-
ments and their expenditures are
rapidly giving them compelling in
fluence in the fields of philanthropy,
education, economic and sociological
resources and other branches OF social
betterment work by-which the thought
OF the country is nodded.
The Coal Miners Investigation.
'If the record of these men in the
management of industry shows be-
lief in democratic principles and a
firm adherence to those principles,
then we have nothing to fear, for
the present, at least, in their interest
in philantllropic and educational
moves. hut the commissions recent
inquiry into the coal miners strike
in Colorado indicated that this is not
the fact and that the Rockefeller in
terests at least prefer paternalism or
benevolent absolutism to democracy.
If the attitude assumed by those
interests toward their employees in
Colorado is to be maintained in di-
recting the work of the Rockefeller
Foundation. including the investiga-
ton of industrial relations, the public
should know of it. In both activities
the control is in the hands OF the
same men. This is not generally un-
derstood by the public.
No MonarchiaI Trend.
Mr.. Walsh said he did not mean to
suggest that there is danger of "a
trend toward monarchial, government
in this country. Such talk Is
absurd he declared. Il do mean that
an industrial organization where
in the employees have no voice in de-
termining conditions is essentially un-
democratic and incompatible with
American ideals.
I'VE have held several investiga-
tions in the West, going into indus
trial conditions in the mining, lumber
ing and other industries. Now we
are coming here to examine the peo-
pie who own, direct or control these
interests. We want to investigate the
effect these philanthropic foundations
have upon industries, directly and also
the advertising from these industries
with their relation to industry"