Denver labor bulletin. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1915-19??, 1918-08-03
(From the New York Call.)

to be settled; may believe that only
the adjustment of the capitalist sys-
tenn can bring industrial freedom to
the toilers. This does not present us,
however, from honoring the man who
has fearlessly indicted capitalist mis-
rule and who is sincerely doing his
part in helping to improve the cOndi-
lions of the workers thruout the ma
ton. We are, therefore, glad of the
privilege of printing this pen picture
of Frank Walsh, man who has been
loose from capitalist environment and
who sees the justice of the cause of
the toilers. This does not prevent us,
is so rare among statesmen of this
day and generation.
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
it; medieval, of course, not in the pas
sage of time, but measured by the
quick succession of events these days.
But it seems that not all men tread
worn paths.
Frank P. Walsh, joint chairman
with William Howard Taft of the ma
tionaI war labor board, is a conspicu-
from what may be termed Spen
cerian conception of life. His copy
book had, among other aphorisms, the
target idea. But Walsh disregarded it.
Scorns Limitations.
Philosophers impose limitations
he said, in explaining his views of the
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 flick
ers5, by, can be both consistent and
truthful Events shape and reshape
themselves so fast and reactions
gained from them are SO chargeful
ana even inconsistent with each other
that the man with philosophy would
carry mental bruises all the time
Walsh was sitting back in d chair
in the Office of the national war labor
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
rule, because they know more OF what
they are talking about than could
he ,nstilled into the average attorney
in wears. The employers are repre-
scented by counsel usually because they
have handled the fundamentals of
wages ana working conditions thru
stewardships for years"
Board Is Shirt Sleeve Court.
Walsh voiced the foregoing view
in describing the workings of the ma
tionaI war labor board. He is in his
natural element with the board. It
is "shirt sleeve" court of the first
magnitude None of its sessions have
shown formality of any kind. Four
years ago Walsh came into national
prominence as chairman of the United
States commission on Industrial rela-
tons It was his first shirt sleeve"
court. It's course. shocked the con-
servatives. But Walsh went about
the country holding hearings and
swinging the dead cat of irformality
all over the premises. Working men
found themselves as welcome before
the commission in fanneis as in linen.
The present board. too, greets testi-
mony in much the same manner. The
workers feel perfectly at home,
staunchly defending their positions
against the best efforts of highly
trained legal experts.
Four years ago-four years that
have been fruitful turnout the world
of economic thOught-Walsh came out
of his home town, Kansas City, Mo-,
as a national figure. When the in
dustriaI commission was named by
President Wilson-it had been origi-
mated in the administration of Pres
ident Taft-Walsh was selected as
chairman. Walsh amazed his col
leagues by the manner in which he
shuffied of twenty-five years of legal
training and got down to brass tacks
with Shirt sleeve court. 1t was
sheer atavism, for Walsh had been
messenger boy. as a Pullman con-
ductor, at several other avocations,
including steuography, before becom-
ing laWyer.
Board Learned Much.
The commission was narpec to learn
the causes of industrial unrest.
Walsh already knew lot about them.
But it was fine finishing school for
his colleagues. They learned all about
them in a series of hearings in vir-
tualIy every industrial center over the
country. So did nearly every labor
ing man The boards hearings were
published verbatim by Congress. The
testimony provided wealth of infor-
nation and thought to workers as
well as developed economists. Baby
union orators were teethed on its
truths Those of larger growth ex-
panded under its array of thought,
gathered from every one worth while
in the nation. The testimony swept
away the petty boundaries which had
confined economic thought and prog