New-York tribune., 1919-05-18

been embodied in your commission, in
sists upon what is known as the open
shop, and this practice organized labor
does not care to consider. Industrial
councils will contribute nothing
toward solution of unemployment
problems, but, on the contrary, by pro-
noting efficiency and assisting toward
great production with less labor, they
will actually tend to aggravate the
problem"
A statement from q worker named
Somerville showed that the increased
cost of living had opened the eyes Of
the Canadian workingman; that he was
sore at the proiiteering going on; that
there were objections to the system of
government at Ottawa, where the Par
Lament and even the Cabinet seemed
to be framed as much as possible so as
to avoid the public will: that the work
men objected to group of men hold
ing up the nation for it's last cent for
munitions and for war supplies at a
time when the body of the nation had
been suffering undue hardships; and
to commercial system that counte-
nanced the cornering of goods, thus
causing prices to soar.
Judge Agrees With Workers
At the Winnipeg sessions the Chief
Justice, on the commission, agreed with
the contention of union men that they
must have moro than a bare existence,
the workers arguing that while wages
had advanced it was not in proportion
to the advance of all forms of life COM
modities
Rev. William Ives, editor of "The
Western Labor News" advocated par
Lament Of workers, naturalization of
all essential industries, democratic
judiciary and abolition of the profits
system.
A. Jameson, for the Brotherhood of
Trainmen. scored the manufacturers
for letting prices soar-some lines 400
per cent, while others were 1S per cent.
In addition to abolishing the taxes on
land and taxing commodities, the wit
ness said he would place the medical
profession under government control
so that every one could get attended
to.
W. j. Eadie, representing the Winni-
peg branch of the Great War Veterans
Associations, intimated that there were
$500 out Of employment in that city
month ago. He said it was impos-
sible for a married soldier to go out to
the farms to work, as the wages, at $50
and s66 month, would not allow him
to keep his family properly.
Women Protest
Mrs. r. +. Williams appeared. repre-
senting over sixty women's clubs. She
claimed the high cost of living had
undoubtedly great deal to do with
the labor unrest. 1--WE are here to urge
that you recommend to the government
Immediate radical steps to control the
food prices" said this witness, "and
bring down the high cost of living"
Mrs. Nash, member of the Manitoba
Minimum Wage Board, referred to the
minimum wage for women at Winnipeg
being $3.50 as compared with mini
mum of $3.50 some years ago, but
showed that this was not sufficient, on
account of every commodity being so
mach higher.
At Fort William, J. Grant, chairman
Of the Association of Boiler Makers,
prophesied that both the towns of
Fort William and Port Arthur might
any day be plunged into a strike, as
workers could not get a decent living
Wages were higher, but the cost of liv-
ing was still higher, and men with chill
dren found great difficulty in providing
properly for them. He asserted that in
some cases children were going to
school with insufficient nourishment.