Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-09-14

( more persons occupy one room IN
\ 37 per cent Of the homes three or more
7. persons are crowded into one room,
and this Is q country whose unoccu-
pied domain is greater than that Of
any other country.
We found that 20 per cent Of the
school children are unHourished That
only 10 per cent Of the school children
ever reach high school That two
thirds don't get through the grammar
school on account Of the economic
pressure on parents.
1.-THE saddest finding OF the com
mission. which may stir the people in
ITO action, was the fact that babies Of
the poor die four times faster than
the babies of the welI-to-d0. Babies of
parents receiving $40 . week die four
times faster than those whose parents
are receiving SIS a week
I'VE found that one out Of every
twelve persons who die in the great
city Of New York, with all its wealth
and industry, goes TO the potter's field
or to the dtssecting table.
In all industries Of the United
States We found that the willing
workers are out Of work one-ffth of
the time because it is impossible for
them to get employment.
The cause OF industrial unrest is
low wages-a failure to give the toll
ers a sufficient portion of what they
earn.
we all love freedom. We al
crave happiness. So, it behooyes rs
to study certain institutions that
have grown up that seem to make fer
the conditions I have described.
We hear much about violence. but
we don't hear so much about certain
institutions that have grown up to
keep people in dependence. The com
mon people. by these institutions, arr
denied all things which we as Ameri
can citizens hold dear IN some
states standing armies are able to
overthrow the power of the state
When the first clash comes between
employer and employees this force is
used to take away the rights Of the
workers.
Cause of Violence.
I'VE ind that violence on the part
Of the workers is never manifested
except in direct labor stress or
trouble, and is usually directed
against those who would take their
strikebreaker. Only once
did we find organized campaign Of
violence on the part of the workers, !
while on the other hand we did find /
an organized campaign Of violence /
that ought not to be tolerated longer. /
We found that in one instance /
2,700 honest workers had been
dragged off to jail without the sem /
olance Of charge against them. We
found the military seized the civil /
power and used it against the work
eFs. Thus you have the shame Of /
West Virginia, the horror of Colo (
RADIO, the outrages Of Michigan.
And. speaking Of violence. We
found that $4,000 men are killed in
Industries every year. That 100
200 workers are seriously injured in
he industries annually. These could
1e averted by proper precautions
When you talk of violence. why not
investigate this phase Of the subject2
We ran the whole gamut Of main
enance Of private armies by great
corporations. If congress at its next
session does not do away with these
private standing armies. then congress
Vii no longer be representative Of the
people,
I am not believer in the efficiency
II substantive law TO help the work
RS. Il the workers viii rise in their
strength and win their econ
mic freedom they can get anything.
II were working man I would
e very careful about trusting any
art OF my economic welfare with q
legislative body. OF course, law can
-eIp some, It can and should IN
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