Arizona republican., 1915-01-12
|S
 NOT DEMOCRATIC
Commission on In dustrial Relations to Find Out Whether Principles of Democracy Are Re spected
ASSOCIATED PRESS pIsPArcHJ

commission on industrial relations will begin hearings here Monday to find out whether the principles of democ racy are being respected and main tained in our great basic industries" said Chairman Walsh of the commits sion in statement outlining the com missions plans for it's investigation i here. During the inquiry many noted men and WOmen-capitaliStS, philan- thropists, social workers, labor leaders, writers and others-will be witnesses. | Walsh said the fundamental prin l ciple of democracy is that people have 1 a compelling voice in determining the laws and the form of government under which they live. He said that principle
 was applied to industry and now pub l lie opinion is demanding that it be ap-
 piled to wage earners. Walsh declared | If captains of industry, who are active in promoting philanthrOpic social bet
 terment work, showed strong behef in
 these democratic principles, all well | and good. But, he stated, d recent in vestigation of the commission in Colo | rado indicted this is not true, but in
 stead that the Rockefeller interests at
 least prefer paternalism or benevolent
 absolutism to democracy.
 The fundamental principle of de-
 mocracy is that the people shall have compelling voice in determining the laws and form of government under
 which they live" MT Walsh said.
 That principle is now being applied
 to industry and public opinion is
 rapidly coming to concede the neces-
 sity of giving wage earners voice
 in determining working conditions if
 they are to enjoy the measures of
 freedom which the founders of our
 country intended.
 'The men who control our great
 est industries are in many instances the men who are most active in
 promoting philanthropic and social
 betterment work. They have set
 aside vast sums of money as per
 manent endowments and their eX-
 penditures are rapidly giving them a compelling influence in the fields of philanthropy. education, economic and sociological research and other branches of social betterment work by which the thought of the country is moulded.
 If the record of these men in the mana cement of the industry shows
 a belief in the democratic principles
 and a firm adherence to those prin-
 ciples, then we have nothing to fear
 for the present at least, in their
 interest in philanthropic and educa-
 tional moves But the commission s
 recent inquiry into the coal miners
 strike in Colorado indicated that this
 is not the fact and that the Rocke-
 feller interests at least prefer pat
 ernalism or benevolent absolutism to democracy.
 If the attitude assumed by those
 interests toward their employees in
 Colorado is to be maintained in di-
 recting the work of the Rockefeller
 Foundation. including the investiga-
 ton of industrial relations the pub
 lie should know of it. In both acti-
 vities the control is in the hands
 of the same men. This is not gener- ally understood by the public" Mir Walsh said that when the Rockefeller foundation was first pro- posed there was a general discussion as to the wisdom of giving federal sanction to the control, by a self : perpetuating board of directors oi
 fund of $10O,0000O0 with immunity
 from taxation for property used fol
 philanthropic purposes and with nc ,f Q cipal of this fund.
 [ Rockefeller and his agents ack- T nowledged the wisdom of proposal! , that would limit the power of di- = rectors," MT. Walsh continued. "anC = agreed to several amendments to thu > bill in congress which were designed S to bring the foundation under public influence and control and to limi = the size of the endowment. But tn.
 effort to get d federal charter thei = was dropped and the foundation wa h incorporated under the laws of Nev i York, with none of the restriction = which congress deemed wise' ;. Mr. Walsh said he did not meal r to suggest that there is danger o : "a trend toward monarchial govern 5. ment" in this country Such tall l. is absurd" he declared.
 u 'I do mean that an industrial or : ganization wherein the employees hay 2 no voice in determining conditions i = essentially undemocratic and incom Q patible with American ideals. II 'We have held severo investiga = tions in the west, going into indus ?, trial conditions in the mining, lumber q ing and other industries. Now we ar d coming here to examine the peopl
 who own, direct or control these in Q terests. We want to investigate tn !. effect these philanthropic foundation q have upon industries.
 S ''We also want to inquire into tn extent of the control of absente d ownership of industries. For ex q ample, the Rockefeller mines hay V seven directors in Colorado and eigh = in New York. To what extent d. V these New York interests run tn if industry?"
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