The Elbert County tribune., 1915-01-15
western Newspaper Union New. serrlc..

Western Newspaper Union News Services.
Denver. Jan. 12.-Besides the mem
bers of the Legislature, large mum
her OF people assembled at the Audi
torium at noon today, when Governor
George A. Carlson delivered his In
augural address. Substantially. the
new executive said.
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE TWEEN
TIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
THE STATE OF coLoRADo:
Greeting: In my few days asso-
citation with you | have become Inn
pressed with the fact that the desire
determination TO accomplish is defin-
lie and firmly. fixed. Colorado is young
in history. Her vast resources are yet
IN the earliest infancy OF develop
ment. Mighty problems have proven
battling; but ! am most highly graft
position to ouail cringe. Giant
problems are the despair of the weak.
s pnt tney rn 9niy serve s;,s, as spur to dho
lens Is only matched by your opportn-
nifty for service.
IndustrinI Commission.
Colorado and the Immediate parties
have suffered much from Industrial
disputes. Frequent conflicts between
employer and employe have occurred.
and each conflict has been character
ized by increased bitterness and. in
some instances. attended by destruc-
therefore. must be apparent TO all that
the present methods of preventing and
settling grievances between employer
and employe are entirely unsatisfac
tory, and quite frequently disastrous
TO those directly involved. and to the
perative that this Legislature earnest
ly and diligently address itself to the
u possible. the causes of these indus
trial disputes To preserve peace is
ssse but part nf, OF the pr,obiem problem. The
be recognized and measures adopted to
eliminate them.
Early In our country's history in
competition much less keen than to-
day. Employees knew their fellow
relations with their employer. There
was no need OF Intermediary
agency, established specially TO pre-
serve harmony and insure fair deal
Ing between the two. But time saw
increasing development of our re-
sources, ana OUT 9i .his deveiopment
combinations of labor. Inventions Of
labor-saving machinery. and the ever
very complex proposition out of what
had been n very simple one, and pend-
further away from the employe. and
the empioye from the employer Ger
tain conflicting purposes OF employer
and employe clashed. bitterness de-
veloped and evidenced itself. from time
to time, In strikes, boycotts. black
lists and lockouts. Colorado has ex-
cpochai changes there was developed
no intermediate agency to protect the
cesses of the other. Our own state
government acquiesced in the widen
Ing breach and made but feeble pro-
the state by these recurring and vio-
lent disputes.
The time has now come when Colo
fis mn at fna 90 h..fr, al ~
tive force. Our state government must
become a positive and vital agency to
forces; an agency to stand between
employer and employe and compel fair
dealing between them | believe this
establishment of an Industrial commits
sion charged with the power and duty
of administering laws now existing or
hereafter enacted concerning the rela-
tionship between employer and en-
ploye. Boards and bureaus now ex
listing and designed to deal with Ger
tain phases of this Relationship. lack CO.
ordination uniformity and definite
their powers and duties delegated to
the commission.
This commission should be given
broad, general powers. 1t should have
power to administer and enforce laws
protecting the life. health. safety and
welfare OF employees; to Investigate and
er methods of protection are best
adapted 70 rcndeS the employees OF e,v-
power to promote the voluntary arbi-
tration. mediation and conciliation of
ployes, and to avoid the necessity of
resorting to strikes. lock bow
colts. black lists. Determinations and
legal proceedings in matters OF en-
ploymcnt; to establish and conduct
free employment agencies and to do
all in its power to bring together em-
ployers seeking employees and work
ers seeking employment: to devise and
adopt the most efficient means within
fg IA In ia m m al 1nx y mt al
to prevent Involuntary idleness: to pre-
vent distress following involuntary
idlencss. to publish information relat-
ing to the work under its Jtfrisdiction
to subpoena witnesses and to examine
books.
Power to form an advisory board
should be given the commission. Such
board. composed of persons serving
without compensation and represent
Ing the different interests affected by
the commission's rulings. would be
able to give valuable aid and sugges-
tion to the commission and tend to
minimize criticism OF its rulings.
In addition to the power to issue
and enforce general orders. the com
mission should have power to Issue
special orders where particular or un-
usual circumstances would make a
hardship upon any interests coming
within Its scope.
Heretofore. our state government
has stood by aud allowed Industrial
disputes to become more and more
bitter until finally violence occurred
The state troops were then called out
An Industrial commission armed with
fun Information as 10 the cNact con
ditions In disturbed employment
with power OF mediation and concilia-
ton aud uffarinE induccmcnt to arbt-
tratfon would IN most cases be uhle
to suggest satisfact ory solution. In
case either side proved unfair ar
agreement could not be reached the
public would he In fun possession Of
the facts This is the app piication OF
the commission to situation grown
acute.
Along the lines of preventive work
it's broad powers 10 decrease unem-
ploSmcnt. to compel safe places of en-
pioyment. to enforce existing and fu
lure laws concerning the relationship
tainiy tend to diminish the present
Industrial unrest and establish con-