Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-16
STANDARD OIL FLAYED
FOR LABOR ATTITUDE
Processing Righteousness, 1t Mis-
treats It's Men and Refuses
Them Decent Wages.
INVESTIGATORS MAKE REPORT
They Ask That Sordid Facts Found
BE Examined in Light Of What
Company Has Announced As Its
Views on Industrial Relations.

CHICAGO. August l5-The report OF
George r. West and c. T Chenery. who
investigated tho recent strike Of en-
ployees OF the Standard OIL Company.
OF New Jersey. at Bayonne. for the Fed
eral Industrial Relations Commission,
vas made public tonight by Chair
man Walsh, u the commission. II
said. In part:
The company is the most important
Of the Standard Oil group. and this
group Is the principal contributor to
tho wealth, prestige and power OF the
largest estate in the country. I. not In
the world, that OF Mr.. John d. Rookie
fcllcr. Sr.. and his immediate family.
The facts regarding the company's
labor policies must. therefore, be re-
Garded as OF special significance be-
cause OF the tremendous power welded
by tho group of men who control this
industry, and because OF their an
nounced intention 10 enter the field of
industrial relations with a view to
widening their influence and actively
propaEating what they deem 10 be the
proper theories and principles that
should govern the relations between
employer and employee"
FINDINGS OF FACT
IN LIGHT OF THEORIES
The following findings of fact are
to he considered IN the light of the
foregoing:
The Standard Oil Company. OF New
Jersey, although conducting an enor-
mously profitable enterprise, pays
wages too low TO maintain n family on
comfortable. hcalthful basis.
ut nxcs wages not with relation to
the earnings of the company. but by
taking into consideration wages paid
by other companies in the same local
ity. and then fixing the wage as low
in that locality.
In Bayonne IL paid common labor
ers less than those Of two compa nies
whose plants adjoin its reflneries.
This is In direct contradiction to the
claims of the company in statement
issued at 26 Broadway. that 1t always
has paid the prevailing wage or better.
The company maintains a settled
policy of refusing to deal with any
labor organization or professional
labor man.. and even refuses to per-
init those employees who cannot speak
English intelligibly to engage an at
torney AS their spokesman and repre-
sentative"
The men arc made to understand"
the report continued. that they must
seek no outside assistance in their
dealings with the management, and
that any show of independence or any
h!rt of compulsion will be Vigorously
resented
40 MACHINERY PROVIDED
TO ADJUST GRIEVANCES
The company has instituted no ma
chinery by which real or fancied
grievances may be peacefully and
promptly adjusted. The officials say
that any man has access to the general
superintendent. but the employees al
legc that they would be discharged be-
fore reaching the office
General Manager Clifford is not a
believer in child labor legislation, and,
on the other hand. thinks the children
should be allowed to go to work
earlier"
The report rected that the company
employed n detective agency to fur
nish guards and strikebreakers. 1t
quoted the attorney for the agency as
referring to these men as "a lot of
thieves" The Investigators added,
Their appearance amply justified his
use Of the term"
The strike was broken by Sherin
Eugene Kinkead." the report stated.
who first overawed and disorganized
the strikers by assauiting and arrest
ing one Of their leaders, and then
strengthened his control over them by
promising to use his influence to OBJ
tain An increase in wages and by ar
resting thirty OF tho armed guards"
In another section Of the report, 1t
was stated that the sheriff's alleged
assault was upon "a young Elizabeth
City Socialist named jeremiah Baly."
The report asserted that the sheriff
Continued on Third Page.)