The Washington herald., 1915-02-13
The Industrial Commission.

! Last year, when the investigating mood OF
Congress was at high point OF fervor, provision
was made for the appointment by the President
OF body OF Investigators. to be chosen outside
of Congress- to whom was to be given a rowing
commission to travel over the country at their
will and look into the subject OF industrial rela-
Itions" Probably neither tho President nor Con-
grc>, was entirely cognzant OF the extent OF
ground that the words industrial relations" were
to be forced into covering. The limitations of the
wor, OF the commission were largely lett to the
commission itself. Oi course VIC cannot tell
surely but have something more than dim
idea that the actual results OF the commission )
work have been very unsatisfactory both TO the
President OF the United States and to the members
OF our national legislature.
The idea OF the Industrial Commission seems
/ to have originated with lawyer named Walsh
of Kansas City, who had achieved some local fame
as an attorney for labor unions and sort OF
standing adviser OF laboring in his home city
Certainly Mr. Walsh not known to students
Ioi political economy throughout the United
States but he was, nevertheless, man OF good
.rcputalion whose hobby was labor matters Just
how he managed to get the Presidents ear VIC
do not know but At any rate the Industrial Com
ui,,ron was called into being, and Mr.. Walsh was
appointed It's chairman.
ha> examined scores OF witnesses in every part OF
the land Laborinc men have been called from
their cInroyment business from their duties,
and 50 lar as any one can observe, there has been
l'ttlc order method pursued in the taking OF es
tluony. The idea has been, apparently, to examine
a. many prominent men possible, including
clcrCymen. magazine writers and social theorists OF
every description whether or not these individuals
had any practical experience or knowledge upon
the subjects as to which they examined.
Thus. Mr.. J. ?. Morgan examined the other
day in New York and was asked questions design
ed to bring out his notions to the proper wages
that should be paid longshorcmen
I.attcrIy the work OF the commission has turned
itself into general rakng over OF the great chari
table foundations established by John D. Rockcfel
Ter, Mrs Russell Sage and other wealthy persons
These foundations have legal charters and it is
exceedingly doubtful if the Industrial Commission
possesses any authority to inquire into their bust
ness or operations But their representatives cheer
fully appeared and answered all the questions that
the members OF the commission chose to ask
These members have shown themselves, almost
without exception to be untitled for their work. !
Their object has been, apparently, to obtain some
for themselves. They have not euci- |
dated anything of value. They have not gone
deeply or intcgent1y into any question that they |
have tackled and they have tackled every question
in the social industrial liic of the country All
this testimony has been reported in the newspapers
rather fully. And yet nothing has brought greater
proof OF the changed temper OF the public to
these matters than the mcagcr interest which the
work OF the commission has excited. Everybody !
looks at it attempt by silly, fussy and ignor
ant amateurs to turn back water that has already
passed under the mill wheel Indeed, the only
matter concerning the activity OF the commission
as to which public comment has at all been en-
phatic the extraordinary speech made by
Chairman Walsh at gathering on the East Side
Of New York City some weeks ago, in which Mr..
Walsh let himself loose in a bitter TRADE against
wealth and capital which sadly reflected upon the
dignity of his position a government official
and upon his own personal intelligence.
We are so bold as to make the prophecy that
not only will nothing come of the work of the
Commission, but that President Wilson
and our Democrats friends in Congress will re-
yret the day in which they called the commission
INTO being. The time always arrives in the course
Of investigating manias like those which our coun-
Try has recently passed through when they dis
credit and disparagc those who were responsible
or them. Former President Taft, who is doing
good service now a sort of national mentor
showed keen appreciation of the prevailing state
of public sentiment when he said in a speech the
'ther day that everybody realized that the bust