The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-06-01

year. The commissions lie was
fixed by law at three years. but
more than a year was wasted be-
fore the commission was nominated
and confirmed by the senate and
was able TO get TO work. The com
mission was created by congress pri-
marily because congress wished TO
loGge the question of industrial un-
rest. II is a fayorite method which
congress has OF lodging trouble
some questions. Every time a pub
lie question becomes so acute that
there is no possibility OF longer ig
aoring IL, congress creates COM
mission TO Investigate and report"
On II. The commission creates lot
cf jobs, employs a number OF politi-
cal hangers-on, hires secretary.
c0rducts some hearings and then
writes from one 10 Is volumes OF
report" which nobody reads and
which is carefully filed away in the
archives OF congress. This is what
many people thought would happen
10 the industrial unrest" question.
But somehow the scheme slipped
up. II IS true that President Taft
selected a fine collection of reac-
tioEary gentlemen TO serve on the
commission, but a few senators who
wanted 10 see a real investigation
held up thu nominations. When
Pre- sident Wilson came into Office he
named the present commissioners,
and the commission chose Frank p.
Walsh as chairman. Then things
began TO happen. Instead Of the
investigation being turned over TO
corps Of clerks and secretaries
whose job 1t would be to examine
all the standard works on political
economy and write up nice, volum-
nous report, Walsh began 10 call
before the commission people who
really knew or were supposed TO
know something about industrial
unrest" He went so far as 10 sum
mon and examine real working PEG.
p,c-trades unionists, and even /.
w. WIS, Socialists, and other per
IONS usually called "agitators,"
reds" anarchists" and similar
things.
Then Walsh went even further
He summoned the heads OF big cor
porations, large employers of labor.
capitalists, bankers and proceeded
20 find out what they did not know
about labor conditions in their var
Gus properties. And he was not po,
lite about II. lie went after these
men just as an attorney for the
rlaIntin would so after a recalci-
trant witness for the defense on
discrimination. His methods
were declared TO be mot nice"
During tire examination of young
Rockefeller, considerable criticism
was forthcoming at Walsh's meth
DDS. This went so far, that Secre-
tary 10 the President J. p. TLmulty
thought il advisable to come over
10 the Shcreman hotel one afternoon
and spend an hour or so listening to
he examination. The witnesses
roto sted. Politicians protested But
Walsh lid not waver hairs
btcadth. And the result is remark
abe The record contains the facts.
Walsh succeeded where otner in
,os;lgators failed. A comparison of
tie results obtained by Walsh with
those of the congressional commit
zee which investigated the Colorado
strike situation and had young
Rockefeller on the stand, shows con
clus.vely that Walsh got the facts,
whereas the congressional commit.
tee failed.
Now the country is waiting to
see what will come of it all. Unless
all previous experience is reserved,
The commissions report will have
no effect whatever on congress. It's
recommendation will be as careful
" ignored as were those OF a pre-
viCus commission on industrial rela.
tons, another on immigration. and
d long list of similar recommends.
tons from all kinds OF committees
snd commissions. But one thing
Walsh has done. He has awakened
the country AZ never before to the
real conditions in industry. And 1t
may be said that the commission s
report will be entirely different from
these which have gone before II. It
Is TO be made really TO tho coun.
t'y. although nominally TO congress.
There is TO be some plain speaking
in It. such as the country has not
heard before. II he is the only
member to sign the report, Walsh Is
going 10 see that the case remains
the People Versus the Causes of
Industrial Unrest.
CONNERSvILLE, Ind, May 81
l. .