The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-09-07

The average man is Of the opinion
that a philosophy is needed in every
action in life.
''Set your mark and shoot at it,"
was the medieval way of looking at
1t; medieval, of course, not in the
passage of time, but it seems that not
all men tread worn paths.
Frank p. Walsh, joint chairman
with William Howard Taft of the
national war labor board, is a con-
spicuous example of a man who got
away from what may be termed a
Spencerian conception of life. His
COPY book had, among other aphur-
isms, the target idea: Fut Walsh
disregarded it..
Scorns Limitations.
PHILOSOPHERS impose limitations"
he: said, in explaining his views Of
tho matter. They. also have habit
OF getting under your feet. Those
who have philosophers invariably
waste effort in being consistent. No
MAN, considering the film of life as
it flickers by, can be both consistent
and truthful. Events shape and re-
shape themselves so fast and reac-
tions gained from them are so
changeful and even inconsistent
with each. other. that the, man with
a philosophy would. carry mental
bruises all the time
Walsh was sitting back in chair
in the office Of tho national war la
Dor board in Washington. He threw
aside the ancient view Of life as he
saw it, casually even carelessly.
Labor Needs No Lawyers.
conceptions on economics are
purely mental and the point of view
governs entirely" he continued.
New knowledge gives new thoughts.
Any one who has studied economics
must advance. Labor presents its
cases to the board without attorneys,
as a rule, because they know more
of what they are talking about than
could be instilled into the average
attorney in years. The employers are
represented by counsel usually be-
cause they have handled the funda-
menta1s Of wages and working con-
ditions through stewardships tor
years."
Board is Shirt Sleeve Court.
Walsh voiced the foregoing view
tional war labor board. He is in his
natural element with the board. It
is a ''shirt sleeve court of the first
magnitude. None of it's sessions have
shown Formally of any kind. -Four
years ago Walsh came into national
prominence as chairman of the
United States commission on indus
trial relations. It was his first shirt
sleeve" court. It's course shocked
the conservatives. But Walsh went
about the country holding hearings
and swinging: the dead cat of infor-
mality all over the premises. Work
ing men found themselves as well
come before the commission in flan-
nels as in linen. The workers feel
perfectly at home, staunchly defend
ing their positions against the best
efforts Of highly trained legal ex-
perts.
Four years ago-four years that
have been fruitful throughout the
world of economic thought-Walsh
came out of his home town, Kansas
City, Mo-, as a national figure. When
the Industrial commission was named
by President Wilson-it had been
originated in the administration of
President Taft-Walsh was selected
as chairman. Walsh amazed his COL
leagues by the manner in which he
shuffled off rs years Of legal train
ing and got down to brass tacks with
shirt sleeve court. 1t was sheer
atavisn1, for Walsh had been en-
ployed in barb wire MILL as a mes
senger boy, as a Pullman conductor,
at several other avocations, including
.stenography, before becoming a law
YER
Board Learned Much.
The commission was named to
learn the causes of industrial unrest
Walsh already knew a. lot about them.
But it was a fine finishing school
for his colleagues. They learned all
about them in series of hearings
in virtually every industrial center
over the country. So did nearly every
laboring man. The boards hearings
were published verbatim by con-
sress. The testimany provided a
wealth of information and thought
to workers as well as developed econ
omists. Baby union orators were
teethed n it's truths. Those of lar
ger growth expanded under it's array