Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-23
WORKER MUST HELP
MANAGE INDUSTRY,
ASSERTS BRANDEIS
Lawyer economist Advo-
Gates Giving Employe
Voice and Vote in Affairs
of His Employer.

NEW YORK, Jan. 22.-Louis d. Bran
deis, Boston lawyer and economist, told
the Federal Commission on Industrial
Relations today that an industrial
! democracy" in which the worker has a
voice and vote in the management of
industry is the only solution for the
struggle of labor and capital
He must not only have voice and a
vote, but an active participation in the
business" he said.
Brandeis said concentration of indus
try in the hands OF big concerns had i'm
proved the physical condition of labor
through better plants and improved ma
chinery, but had not increased wages
rapidly as conditions warranted"
Ho said there is one fundamental
cause for unrest-'the conflict between
political liberty and industrial alb
solutsm."
Even the strong unions are hardly
able to cope with the potent powers of
finance" he continued.
Profit sharing cannot solve the labor
problem, there must be an opportunity
for the men also to decide their economic
welfare" the witness declared.
NO INNOCENT" sTOCKHoLDER.
Brandeis also blamed absentee land
lordsm" of the great industries for most
of the difficulties between capital and
labor
There is no such thing as an limo
cent stockholder" he asserted. He is
always morally responsible
mo man has time to be director in any
more than one large corporation. Leaving
- =, L.
ecutive' is a relic of the dark ages" he
said.
Brandeis declared he had found one in
stance where control was vested in
clique which held less than one per cent.
of the stock. Wide distribution of stock
divides responsibility to such an extent
that labor suffers, and constitutes the
gravest danger, he said.
STEEL TRUSTS "CzARISM."
Asked to apply his details specifically
to the United States Steel Corporation,
Brandeis said there was "a state of
mind among those in control similar to
that of the Gear of Russia"
"They may mean to do WELL" he ex-
planned. "but they look at problems from
the autocrat's angle"
"Can large corporations be trusted to
bring about reforms themselves" asked
Chairman Walsh.
mo large corporation can be trusted
to reform conditions" the lawyer
answered, 1.-The growth of power has
been inconsistent with safety, Workers
have not the power to work out their
own reforms"
Brandels said in his opinion the "cry-
ing need" is for laws TO curb concentra-
tion of industrial control.
'Tha Rockefeller and Sage FOunda-
tons" he continued, have Jealous
purpose to aid humanity, but I have felt
grave apprehension of the ultimate re-
suit of these foundations powers. We
do not know in what hands this power
may get"
LABOR AND CAPITAL BLAMED.
Brandeis blamed both capital and labor
for many open breaks. He asserted that
capitals failure to understand had been
its principal fault in dealing with strikers.
Capital in many instances honestly be-
lleves il is standing for the highest of
principles in refusing to deal with labor
said Brandeis,
Labor, too has made the same mis-
takes" BTandeia said. THE worker gem
orally thinks his employer is earning
immense diYidends-a condition that usu-
ally does not exist. Few workers ap-
preeiate how great are the risks OF husi-
ness. Natural distrust and hatred of
being subject to the power Of the EN-
ployeF, constitute labor's other mistakes"
Would you be unionist II you were
a wage earneF?" Weinstock asked.
Decidedly" Brandeis answered.
Brandeis was asked what he would do
it an employer II threatened with an un-
just strike
Fight to the end" he said. after ex-
planning that he would try 10 resort 70
arbitration frst
There are unions as well as corpora
tions that sou can only deal with by
war" said BFandeis. There are bad
unions and bad corporations"
MONDAY "RocKEFELLER DAY"
Monday will be Rockefeller day" at
the investigation. John D. Rockefeller,
Jr.. Jerome D. Greene. secretary OF the
Foundation; Ivy L. Lee. who
was said 70 be the press agent Of the
operators IN the Colorado strike. and al /
lezad author Of the pamphlets Distributed
- the operators. are 70 feaflfg. A HaF- /
lan Hepburn. chairman q the NeH xork /
zIaaE Exchange also hzz aaan saznmonad T