East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-02-08

OF their cries for better national de-
fense is a spectacle for the gods.
The hearings by the federal COM
mission that is inquiring into indus
trial relations are
The Owners certain to prove OF
Responsibility. vast benefit TO the
country. The hear
lngs have been worth while II for no
other reason than because they have
brought to light the erroneous views
OF certain trust magnates with refer.
ence to their responsibility to their
workers.
Possession Of power-and owner
ship Of wealth is an important form
OF power should imply responsible
ity. says the Chicago News in an able
comment on this subject In the case
OF individual holdings OF property the
existence Of responsibility has long
been recognized. But some of the
rich men who have testified recently
before the federal industrial commits
sion appear to think that corporations
were created to enable some men to
enjoy the benefits OF wealth without
the obligations that naturally go with
the ownership OF wealth.
Some days ago Jacob schiff and
August Belmont told the commission
that in their opinion it was the bus
iness Of the executive officers Of a
corporation to deal with labor con-
citions and that neither the stock
holders nor even the directors should
be troubled with such matters. At
the hearing on Monday J. Pierpont
Morgan expressed similar views. Di-
rectors, he said. have no responsible
ity whatever for labor conditions in
corporations. He himself had no
opinion as to the age and conditions
under which children should be en-
ployed in industry. and he had never
thought Of the number Of hours Il
day that a child should work.
An individual employer would not
be expected to take the position thus
announced. Directors and stockhold-
ers Of corporations who refuse to give
attention TO the responsibilities that
should go with the ownership Of prop
erty need not be surprised II society
undertakes to supply the conscience
which they appear to lack. When
owners think only Of dividends the
tendency frequently is for managers to
oppress labor and to permit property
to run down in a way that y bound
to react injuriously in the end upon
the interests of the stockholders
themselves. The fate of the New
Haven railroad. with which the father !
Of ]. Pierpont Morgan had much to
do. is an illustration in point
Certain stockholders OF the United |
States Steel corporation IA few years
ago refused to accept the theory of
responsibility for their
when they brought about an
inquiry into labor conditions in the
steel mills. with the result that i'm
were ordered. to the det-
riment of the corporations immedi-
ate earning power.
Socialism is bound to grow IL own
ers of property like Bankers schiff,
Belmont and Morgan adhere to the
theories of responsibility, or lack OF
in connection with
property ownership. announced by
them in the hearings before the in
lustrial commission.
NSON@S
The president is not urging the
creation Of a national merchant ma
rine to crafty a per-
II 1t Comes sonal or political whim.
To This? He is not doing it solA
ely to meet the existing
in overseas shipping and the
high rates. Back Of these
,auses, in themselves sufficient is a
,ossibility-some acute observers