South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-02


| thing under the control of the eXecu-
| tive officers Of the steel corporation,
/ say that are not subject 10 constant
| control and checked" demanded
| Walsh
Now that is limiting me-" answer
| ed Morgan with a smile. I'D like to
/ think over that"
Pauses An Instant.
Pausng an instant he suddenly
! cried, IF / have given the impression
/ that the directors don't know about
/ labor conditions, it's erroneous. We
are informed constantly things are
talked over as to how the plants are
going. etc"
The son Of the great ). p. Morgan
was sitting in his chair. with an arm
thrown over its back, his legs crossed
and a tolerant smile playing over his
! features. He faced the commissioners
| squarely. but all Of them were stern
faced He made no gestures When
animated he occasionally stammered
/ in his eagerness.
Mr. Morgan" asked Walsh evenly
what do YOU regard as proper labor
! conditiOns?"
! The witness looked perplexed.
! You mean the length of a working
day."
YES. for instance"
Il haven't any opinion on that"
was the reply with smile
VIGIL. as to the proper income for
unskilled labOr?"
There again 1 have no opinion,
he said
do you believe SO a week suffi-
| cient compensation for lOngshOre-
man ?"
/ Il don't know"
Informed of Testimony.
He was Informed that a Capt. John
| Watson. head of one of the depart
ments of the International Mercantile
| Marine. had said from $40 to $12 was
adequate pay for a lOngshoreman.
| Morgan thought while.
| We'll" he answered. finally. Il
| don't know. But if that's all he gets
and takes it, / should say it was
Ienough."
A murmur of surprise went around
: the room which Walsh suppressed.
What do YOU regard as the age
/ and conditions under which children
should be employed in industry" he
was next asked.
! Il haven't any opinion. Nominally
/ should say. the later the better
Iagain with a smile.
Have you never thought of the
! length of the day that a child should
be employed, Mr.. Morgan
| NO sir"
lie was asked about a rule of the
4
! borers over 40 or unskilled labOrers
over 81 be employed.
do YOU think that would be a good
rule" he was asked.
! That's a matter OF opinion was
the reply.
What's yours 80
! Il haven't any"
FavOrs Improvement
/ lie finally admitted that he would
have the conditions as to the labor
! of women and children improved as
much rs possible.
Have YOU observed how laborious
the work of a longshoreman is?'
Judging from what l have seen
| when he was 1t work" said Mr.. Nor
/ gan, Il should say it might be IA
! tiEuing"
Walsh next went 20 the question of
| organized labor. I'm which of the
corporations you are interested in are
the men organized"
Il don't know which are organized
or which are not
What is your attitude toward or
SaniZed labor"
! What do YOU mean-my attitude -
/ demanded the witness.
| ''I am not opposed To anything they
want 10 do that is lawful" he said
| Have YOU any objections to the
steel corporation employees being Or
gained To deal with the concern col
| lectiVeN2"
$50 long as they are employed by
the corporation 1 don't care one way
or the other
But if they were not employed by
/ the steel corporations"
! Il certainly would object"
Reads List of Unions.
! Walsh here read a list of unions
which he said had been broken down
4 Ir- cd
/ Mr. Morgan if he knew anything
about il.
II did not even know they had
| ;roken down." was his reply.
All this time Mr.. Morgan was
/ beaming upon the commissioners I'm
/ the manner of "a man who was having
a perfectly good time.
! AS a result of your observation and
/ experience" asked Walsh. do you be-
! lieve industrial discomfort is increas-
\ ing OF diminishing
This was one of the occasions when
I the witness laughed outright
What do YOU mean by discOn-
! tent2" he asked. then answering his
/ own query he went on.
! at seems To me conditions are i'm
proving a great deal is being done.
/ therefore. ] think the discomfort will
/ decrease. I am thinking particularly
I OF the steel corporation. We have
| spent a lot of money for safety ma
/ chinery and for adding 10 the respect
ability OF labor. We have raised
wages and ] think the men are very
/ friendly toward the company"
/ Has No Opinion.
/ Mr. Morgan informed the commits,
sion that the extent Of poverty and
/ suffering in the United States bid
never been called 10 his attention.
He had no opinion AZ TO the causes