The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-11-21
CIVIC FED Al i ION WI!
DlSCUS VITAL QUEST ONS
lie lvI 4 IONA Z Me- NG

tTisf changes that have taken place ii
the United States during the last gen
eradpn. The object Of this survey Il
70 summarize the changes In our ma
hona1 life. and to- gather together III,
essential material from which I,
Judge where there has been an ai
vance in well being, where has beel
Q loss, and how far, in the aggregate
gains and losses balance or outweigh
one another. <
In referring to this, in an announce
ment just saade, Ralph NJ. Eas;sy
chair MOI os the executive COUNSEL 3
the National Civic Federation, said:
IS It y fell that the fine rs .,e-
culiarly ripe FOR Size a surrey.
The last thirfy years. have Wit
messed not only remarkable
changes In our social and eco
nonic life, hut also a marked
change in the public attitude to-
Yard our ,aztiona1 affairs. The
f.!Botne pc:egyrIc Of the old time
Fourth q July orator has given
place TO q ccaseless criticism Of
existing institutions, whether they
be political or social or economic.
The prophets Of change and the
propagandists OF reform OF all
sorts have rudely shaken that
faith in our institutions END In
? ourselves which a FORMER gener-
alton blindly inherited from its
torefathers. In many minds there
Is unrest. feeling that condi-
tons are 50 bad that sympathy ID.
awakened for the most radical
proposals. On the other hand,
there are those who see in such
unrest the hopeful sign Of advance
which can only proceed from dis
content, and they point to the
tremendous progress which has
been made, industrially and So
ctally. in the last thirty years as /
9 complete answer to those who
argue that, because perfection has
not yet been attained, our present
Institutions are a failure, and
should be overturned. @
The following outlines the scope
and character Of the undertaking:
Labor Conditions.
How do wages, hours Of labor and
the physical conditions Of the factory
and the home compare with those Of
thirty years ago? Have the work Of
the American Federation Of Labor. the
railway brotherhoods, and the social
reform organizations, and the legisla.
ton secured by them, regulating con-
ditions in factories, mercantile estab-
lishments, mines, bakeries, tenemen,
houses and sweat shops, really ben
Gifted the wage working men, women
and children OF this country?
Has child labor increased or di-
minished In recent decades? What has
been the effect Of state Legislation up
on age limits, hours worked and OBJ
portunity for education?
What lis being done by voluntary
effort for child welfare. and in what
directions is further progress most
:
what is the significance to the
wage Garner, the employer, and So
ciety as whole. Of the widespread
adoption Of the principle that indus
try shall bear the burden Of Industrial
Does the workman re-
ceive prompt relief when 1t is needed!
Has the employer gained by having a
definite charge fixed by law instea
Of the uncertainty Of damage suits
and the expense Of maintaining claim
departments? Have more ,ainicable re-
lattons been established between work
men and employers than existed under
the liability system? Have these laws
reauccd tho taxpayers charges for the
maintenance Of courts and public
charities? What further effects, such