New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29
The Ignorant Public
BIZ Courtesy of The Nel0 Republic.

Of editorial comment on labor disputes.
A. declaration Of fundamental principle, it
:. ;rcoptrovertibly sound The public-1OO
nor cent Of the population-must be fed,
boused. clothed, transported. For this govern
osrt exists. The paralysis Of production or
distribution the interruption of the free flow
# the necessaries of life, signalizes the par
,lvsis Of government itself.
But if the public is to make effective its
claim 10 paramount consideration, it must be
rrepared TO enter the field of industrial con-
,-oversv. not on the sole ground of its own
,bvsieal comfort, but as the authoritative arbi-
ter of social justice and productive efficiency.
All business is coming to be clothed with
apublic interest and is properly subject to
public control; but it is unreasonable 10 expect
business men 10 give an efficient account of
their stewardship if, like the proverbial house
maid. they are to be subjected TO capricious
Interference by public devoid Of a rational
poicy toward business Neither is it reason
able 70 expect wage-workers to conduct them
selves with punctiious ~ogard for the public
convenience so long as the public remains in
different 70 the conditions under which they
work and TO such elementary questions as
whether the rewards Of labor are the wages Of
hunger. disease and squalor, or the wages Of
economic security and an opportunity to share
the amenities Of life.
Hitherto. of the three parties in interest, the
public has been the most derelict in discharg-
ing its responsibility in the matter Of indus
trial disputes. Every explosion of the smoul-
dering industrial unrest finds the party of the
third part unprepared, ignorant of the cues
tons at issue, dazed, petulant, mystifed. The
coal miners 20 on strike. Immediately the
public has anticipatory visions Of itself hud-
died in improvised wrappings, goose-feshed in
the winter sun. Like the helpless bystander
a. a brawl, it cries Historically to both sides
to stop mussing things up. The instant the
fracas is over the public complacenty returns
10 the warmth of its accustomed shelter. But
why did the men strike? What wages had
they been receiving? Under what conditions
did they work? Had the owners been operat-
ing the mines with due regard TO the public
interest, or merely as means Of personal ag-
grandizement2 And what OF the new agree
ment? Does 1t provide decent standard Of
living for the workers and proper safeguards
for The financial strength of the property? Is
il a rational basis for peace and progressive
adjustment. or merely a patched-up truce
which both sides Will scheme TO evade at the
strategcally expedient moment? Such ques-
tons the public neither asks nor seeks 10
answer whether with respect 70 the miners,
the textile workers, the garment makers or
anv other Industrial group. With the passing
Of the immediate fear of inconvenience, the
public goes into intellectual Information.
Clearly such an attitude is incompatible with
the claim 70 paramount consideration; 1t IS
faced. sybaritic. irresponsible. Instead Of
commanding the respect due TO competent au-
thority. il breeds decentralization and contempt
And today the public is totally unequipped
with the knowledge essential 70 any effective
assertion Of its claim. Such instruments as
We have created for the Repatriation Of bust
ness-the Interstate Commerce Commission,
the various state public service commissions
and the lke-have concentrated their atten-
ton upon questions Of capitalization and rates.
The human side OF industry has had little or no
systematic consideration. There has, 20 be
sure been a certain stirring Of the public con-
science in behalf OF exploited women and chill
drsn and the insurance Of workers against in
dustrial injuries But these measures deal
with the fringes Of the industrial problem;
they DO not pretend 70 20 20 its core. Such
facts as We have concerning the conditions Of
employment are principally wage statistics,
and these are Of the most general character.
They are sufficient, however, 70 furnish an IN
equivocal answer % the harassed question as
70 the cause Of industrial unrest; and they
furnish, also, clear index 70 the first step
which the public must take if it is TO become
an authentic participant in the adjustment and
Prevention Of industrial disputes
Whatever one may think as 70 the wisdom
Of the recent federal legislation affecting the
railroads, Il Is obvious that it was based upon
considerations Of expediency and abstract JUS
tee, rather than upon knowledge Of the wages
and working conditions Of the millions Of rail
road workers. The recent traction muddle in
New York City was quite as obviously due 20
the absence Of similar information, so that
here, TO- the authorities were guided by legal
istc and superficial considerations, while the
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