The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-04-30

IN a recent speech N Chicago,
Chairman Walsh of the United States
Commission on Industrial Relations,
5oid some blunt truths about the labor
problem. and clearly defined the
classes Of people who are responsible
FOR much Of 0ur Industrial strife and
social lila Said ia in part;
Faorsynie ABUSES
'TloBe guilty NJ economic ahnses
for gain, may bs divided into tl1rse
classes: rhose Who. ~ corruption and
other devious means sarars franehiaes
and special PRIVILEGES If var-oua sorts
10 exploit sntirs communities and
whole sections 1f the country; the
men who. by similar methods secnrs
4 grip ipun and and other natural
resources, the common inllerttancs IF
all, 10 selfishly exploit the same, or
Che men who employ women and
mold it away from the beneficial use
OF their feilowmen The men Who work
and unhealthful factories and mines;
The men VINO employ women and
children in unhealthfui occupations.
or in unsanitary workshuDs, the sx-
plotting employers Who impose upon
their helpless workers long hours at
low wages which will nor allow for
chat sweet contentment Of mind which
makes Of labor Il Joy the man who
sells deoayed or adulteratsd food; the
man Who rnbs his own employees of
the product Of their 5u1I and gives
away the money IN snowy benefactions
and stupendous foundations; the men
Who through organizations, whether
termed benevolent, commercial, en-.
pioyers Of what not, combine To CO.
cree and br0wbeat other men in their
effort To organize ana obtain BY cnn--
cert Of action a Just length OF work
day, decent conditions and compensa-
tory wages bankers and financiers
who foster 'watered' stocks and force
employees of large industries to work
FOR low wages because the earning
power OF the companies has been ali
s0rbed in advance; and last, but by
no means least, that large class Of
licksp1ttles who have little or Moth
ing themselves. but who side in with
and work for bad conditions. because
they get, or vaguely hope To get. a
moiety OF the general staaIage
Worst IF All React! orariea.
The latter class Is so large and
their combined efforts SO vitality assist
IN keeping alive rotten social and
Industrial conditions, chat they de-
serve TO rank ahead of several of the
divisions first named. They ara the
0ft-dubbed Little Brothers Of the
Rich usually vtsionless clerks, brief
less lawyers and so-caIled leaders
OF Thought who ought 20 be buffers,
and Nicholas Murray Butler. To them
"demagogic.' They view with alarm
the sGcialistic tendencies OF cur times
and the growing disrepect OF the
people for vested rights Usually
upon meager salaries themselves.
hopelessiy submerged, but submissive
and servile they are the product Of
false teaching, mean ambition, LACK Of
thought, personal weakness, and vic
Tins, generally ot circumstances be-
Y0nd their control, Because SO many
of them are not conscious CT wrong
doing Is the only reason T havs for
placing them among the minor Of
lenders.
Such men AZ form these various
divisions are the voluntary offenders
against economic Justice and the laws
Of the Iand They make profit, or
hope To, through bad economics and
violated Avs
risi's i-slf Acres
"But lCn3 &C the other side CT the
economic ledger There you will find
the millions who are che victims Of
these prcrir ulCngers and law break
ers-the involuntary offenders. They
are the thieves, hariots the weak, the
deficient, The men and women badly
poisoned mentally through shameful
environment and poor food, stretched
over generations the near-Eercs OF
civilization, the MANNED, the crippled.
the blind, the hereditary victims Of
disease and vicious habits, children ct
parents whose iabor saDped them Of
the strength that should 20 to andow
A future generation with good brain
and an adequate body; victims Of
drink who uanvailingiy have tried 20
snatch 4 Few golden moments cut Of
gray world; children crippled in the
streets and 1acr1rtes because organ
ized society has not yet reached the
plane whers i5 adequately cares For
.ts young the survivors Of war and
he wretcheG victims OF financial pan
.cs who have suffered because zig