Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-07-21

AT the request Oh the iOCdl lOuBe
of Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men and Engineers we publish the
address Of Hon. Frank P. Walsh,
which he delivered before the twen
ty-seventh convention of that organ
ization, which was recently held in
Denver. AS Mr.. Walsh is chair
man of the committee on industrial
relations, his address contains much
that will be of interest to all classes
of citizens. 1t is as follows:
1t goes without saying that the
very kind invitation extended to me
to address this convention, meets
with my most profound appreciation.
am proud to be here because l be-
lieve you are engaged in a great
work for democracy and humanity.
am indeed, grateful for the warm
reception you have rendered me.
Something less than three years ago
was commissioned to perform a
duty for the people America collect
lively and take this beautiful recep-
tion you give me and which so glad
dens my heart, not in a personal
sense, but as a tribute to a humble
servant whom you believe, right
fully or wrongfully, attempted to
discharge his duty, as God gave him
the light. (Applause.)
OF course, this meeting-this con
vention-is of more than ordinary
Significance, and therefore it is with
more than ordinary interest and
pleasure that | travelled from my
home in Kansas to appear before you
today because, as a common citizen
of this country, Il am as deeply in
terested in the developments now be.
ing brought forward by the four
united railroad brotherhoods in Am
erica, as is any person in this audi
ence here. (Applause.) And so is
every other American citizen that
understands the aims and objects
of the government under which he
lives, and who hopes for an extension
of democracy as bringing about the
greatest good to the greatest number,
not only in this country, but through
out the world. (Applause.)
United States Commission on Indus
trial Relations.
Just word on the United States
Commission on Industrial Relations.
My friends, the work of that commits
sion is known to practically all OF
the people. 1t was a commission of
nine members selected from what
were presumed to be ordinary divi-
sions of the common citizenship of
this country, to make an inyestiga-
tion into the condition of labor, in
the basic industries of the United
States, which OF course. included
yours, and inquire and ascertain, II
possible, the cause of the industrial
dissatisfaction that had become ap-
parent in SO many states of the Am.
erican Union.
There were represented upon that
commission three members of what
might be called the employing class
three members representing organic
ed labor, and three representing the
common citizenship in this country
or the public as it was officially
termed. had the honor to be nom
mated by the president of the United
States for the craftsmanship of tha
commission, being appointed as on'
of the group representing the public
and was afterwards selected for tina
position by the body itself, when /
made its permanent organization II
the city of Washington.
The Truth Is Mighty.
AS l say, our investigation was t.
be into the basic industries of th
nation And we were called upon
fitted or untitled, to make inquir.
into all that was vital in the livini
conditions of all the people of tn
United States of America. Whethe
we did that work well or whether W
did 1t i'll, / make but one statement
and that is, that the work OF tina
commission was carried on fearless
", and that no man was favored o.
account of height or power or on az
count OF any person he represented
(Applause.)
II the truth be mighty and in
perishable, then our work mus
stand il 1t be not, then it must fal
In the letter submitting our rt
port to the congress of the Unite
States we declared to that body tina
there was no statement of industris
relations or conditions in the Unite
States submitted by our report
the people of the United State
through its congress, about whic
there was any possible dispute;
other words, where a statement {
conditions bore against a group (
- workers. or where a statement I
conditions bore against a group
employers, or a single individual en-
ployer it was not submitted unle
1t was admitted by that particuli
group to be absolutely true. S
our record, so far as that went. shog
that indisputable fact. You kno
the storm that that report raised
congress and In many states. and
stand here to say that after one yei
OF discussion-after one year Of Il
bitterest and closest analysis-the
IA not n single fact contained in tn
report which has been protested