Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-28
low WAGES CAUSE
INDUSTRIAL UNREST
Federal Industrial Relations
Commission Will So Report
Findings to Congress.
WORKERS ARE DENIED
FULL PRODUCT OF TOLL
Says Employers Have Maintained
Armies to Intimidate Courts, and
Governors Accused.

Governors Accused.
| KANSAS CITY. Mo-. August 2s.-Low
wages are found to be the basic cause
of industrial unrest in the report
which Frank p. Walsh. chairman Of
the federal commission on industrial
relations, and the labor members OF
that body will present to Congress as
result of the commissions two-year
investigation into the subject.
The report. embodying the personal
findings Of Mr.. Walsh and concurred in
by Commissioners John b. Lennon,
James OConnell and Austin B. Gar
retson, was made public here today.
Denied Full Product of Toll.
THE workers of the nation through
compulsory and oppressive methods.
legal and illegal, are denied the full
product of their TOLL it was declared
! In the report, and the resulting indus
reached proportions that already
menace the social good will and the
peace of the nation
| Responsibility for the condition I'M
der which they live was placed pri-
marily upon the workers themselves.
who, blind to their collective strength
and oftentimes deaf to the cries Of
their followers. have suffered exploita-
ton and the invaslon Of their most
| sacred rights without resistance.
The report. in part, follows:
| we find the basic cause of indus
, trial dissatisfaction to be low wages,
or. stated in another way. the fact that
the workers of the nation. through
! compulsory and oppressive methods;
| legal and illegal. are denied the full
product of their toll.
Unrest Is Menacing.
| I'VE further find that unrest among
the workers in industry has grown to
proportions that already menace the
social good will and the peace Of the
nation. Citizens numbering millions
smart under sense of injustice and
| oppression.
The extent and depth of industrial
State and national conventions of
labor organizations. numbering many
thousands of members, have cheered
the names of leaders imprisoned for
participation in campaign of vio-
fence. conducted as one phase Of a con-
fiict with organized employers.
employers have created and main
tanned small private armies and used
these forces to intimidate and suppress
their striking employees by deporting.
imprisoning. assaulting and killing
their leaders. Elaborate spy systems
are maintained to discover and fore
use of state troops in policing strikes
has bred bitter hostility to the
militia system.
Institutions Perverted.
Courts, legislatures and governors
have been rightfully accused Of serv-
ing employers to the defeat of JUS
tice. and while counter charges come
from the employers and their agents,
with almost negligible exceptions, it
is the wage earners who believe, as
sert and prove that the very institu-
tons of their country have been per-
verified by the power of the employer
ITO the support of the militant and
aggressive propaganda Of organized
small but rapidly increasing host of
ministers. college professors, writers,
Journalists and others OF the profess
sional classes. distinguished in many
instances by exceptional talent which
they devote to agitation, with no hope
of material reward.
I'VE find the unrest here described
to be but the latest manifestation Of
the age-long struggle OF the race for
freedom of opportunity for every in
dividual to live his life to its highest
ends.
Developments Aid Unrest.
"The unrest of the wage-earner has
been augmented by recent changes and
Developments in industry. Chief of
these are the rapid and universal in
PRODUCTION and extension of machinery
by which unskilled workers may be
substituted for the skilled, and an
equally rapid development of means
of rapid transportation and commune
cation by which private capital has
been enabled to organize in great cor
porations.
Work formerly done at home or in
small neighborhood shops has been
transferred to great factories, where
the individual workers become an i'm
personal element under the control Of
impersona1 corporations. Women in
increased numbers have followed their
work from the home to the factory, and
even children have been enlisted.
Great Profits, Small Wages.
Now more than ever the profits Of
great industries under centralized con-
troll pour into the Golfers Of stockhold-
ers and directors, who never have so
much as visited the plants and who
perform no service in return. And
while vast inherited fortunes. repre-
senting zero in social service to the
credit Of their possessors, automatical-
ly treble and multiply in volume, two
thirds Of those who toll from eight to
twelve hours day receive less than
enough to support themselves and their
families in decency and comfort.
I'VE find that many entire communi-
ties exist under the arbitrary economic
control of corporation officials charged
with the mana cement of an industry
or group Of industries. and we find that
in such communities political liberty
t,k o. L~N1