Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-04
The Famous Report Of the Industrial
Relations Commission Has at Last
Been Ordered Printed.


results of the most widespread, search
ing and fearless investigation of eco
nomic and industrial conditions that
was ever undertaken and successfully
prosecuted in this country are now
made available to the American people
by the action of congress and the pres
ident in authorizing the printing and
of 100000 copies of the
final report of the United States COM
mission on industrial relations and TO-
600 sets of the testimony and exhibits
brought out by the commission at its
hearings of 1914-1915. The report and
testimony will be ready for distribu-
ton as soon as they can come from
the public printer.
Special credit for ending the long
delay in the senate over adopting the
resolution to print drought about by
the misleading opposition of a group
of reactionary senators, led by Senator
Hoke Smith of Georgia, is given to
Senator Miles Poindexter OF Washing
ton, who forced the vote by which the
senate adopted the resolution. In the
house of representatives prompt sue
cess was due to the splendid efforts OF
the labor group and their special al
lies, composed of such men as keat-
ing of Colorado, Nolan OF California,
Lewis of Maryland. Casey Of Pennsyl-
vania, London of New York City and
Tavenner of Illinois.
The conclusions and proved findings
Of the commission forced recognition
by congress and now have the sane
ton, if not the specific endorsement of
the national lawmaking body-a sane
ton or approval given in response to
the unparalleled expression of popu-
lar confirmation of the commission S
findings and of the recommendations
of the commission contained in its
main report. Some of these proved
conclusions are:
That the sources from which indus
trial unrest springs are:
1. Unjust distribution of wealth and
income.
2. Unemployment and denial Of an
opportunity to earn living.
3. Denial of justice in the creation,
in the adjudication and in the admin
istration of the law
4. Denial Of the right and oppor-
tunity to form effective organizations.
The printing of the testimony as
we'll as of the report will place in
every workingman's library and every
library of social and economic stu
dents the facts to prove that vast
numbers of the nations workers re-
ceive wages too low to maintain a de-
cent existence for themselves and their
families; that the economic power of
the employers in industries where the
wage earners are unorganized either
has made them political and social die
tators as well as industrial dictators,
or has left the workers with a politi-
cal freedom of little immediate value
and in glazing contrast with their
economic subserviency; and finally
that only through organization among
themselves and with their own leaders
can the wage earners rescue not only
themselves but the community from a
situation that is repugnant to and sub
versive of American ideals"
The statement of Chairman Frank
P. Walsh in his separate report now
made available by action of congress
says:
"The responsibility for the condi-
tons which have been described above
we declare rests primarily upon the
workers, who, blind to their collective
strength and oftentimes deaf to the
cries of their fellows, have suffered
exploitation and the invasion of their
most sacred rights without resistance
A large measure of responsibility
must, however, attach to the great
mass of citizens who, though not di-
rectly involved in the struggle between
capital and labor, have failed to real
ize that their own prosperity is de-
pendent upon the welfare of all classes
Of the community, and that their rights
are bound up with the rights of every
other individual But until the work
ers themselves realize their RESPONSE
| bility and utilize to the full their col
lective power, no action, whether gov.
ornamental or altruistic, can work any
genuine or lasting improvement"
1t is now officially declared from The
| facts as brought out in the testimony
of more than 100 qualified witnesses
| about equally divided among workers
employers and group not aligned
with either, employees or employers