The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-06-20
PLACING THE BLAME

would be well if every chamber of COM
MERGE in Indiana would give thought to
the indictment contained in an editorial ap-
pearing in The Pittsburgh Press, a scripps-
Howard newspaper. 1t would be well if the
officials OF every chamber asked themselves the
question: Are we guilty of these ofenses,
In our frantic effort to win more business for
our cities?"
The Press editorial follows:
We are glad to see chambers of commerce
receive their proper share of the blame for
the widespread existence of sweatshops in
Pennsylvania
No organizations have done more to help
establish these industrial outlaws in the cities
and towns Of this state. And none has fought
harder to protect sweatshops from prosecution
and to prevent their abolition.
The shameful activities of chambers of
commerce in behalf Of sweatshops were ex-
planned to the Gallagher commission by E. Ray
Enders, state labor inspector
Mr. Enders testified during the commissions
hearing at Shamokin, Pa, where it is in
vestigating sweatshop conditions.
In all labor law violations" he said 'it is
necessary to meet the opposition of trade
bodies as well as that Of the offending manu-
facturers"
That is a harsh indictment Unfortunately,
it is all too true
In many cases, chambers of commerce have
actually induced sweatshops to settle in their
localities. They do this by arranging for fac
tory sites by guaranteeing cheap labor, and by
promising their assistance in the event of
strikes and industrial disputes
Accordingly the sweatshop moves in, sets
up its machinery, recruits it's labor and begins
operations. And the inevitable abuses prompt
ly follow.
In time, these violations reach the ear of
the state department of labor and an investi-
cation is made. Immediately the local cham
Der Of commerce goes to work. It protests
against any attempts to prosecute the sweat
shop operator.
1t tries to intimdate the local newspaper
to keep the affair "out of the papers" 1t
uses its influence at Harrisburg in an attempt
to have the state charges dropped
If the underpaid workers strike, a similar
procedure is followed The chamber of COM
merce does its best to stir up public resent
ment against the strikers It charges that the
strike is Communist-sponsored, a potent &C
cusation that has crushed many sweatshop
strike.
1t influences the local police to intimidate
strikers. sometimes it even threatens to re-
move families of strikers from relief lists I'M
less they return to their jobs.
All these things actually have happened in
various Pennsylvania cities and towns. And,
worst of ALL they are happening today.
Not even the shameful abuses now being
exposed seem able to change the attitude of
chambers OF commerce toward sweatshops
To the best of our knowledge, not one out
standing chamber of commerce has Endorsed
the campaign to abolish sweatshops and child
labor.
On the contrary, many including the Pitts
burgh chamber of commerce, boosted of the
part they played in defeating minimum wage
and maximum working hour laws-the sure
remedies for Sweatshops.
Strangely enough, these chambers of COM
merce seem blind to the evils of the sweat
shop. They can not see the damage it does to
their own communities, even to their own
businesses.
Sweatshops mean starvation wages to work
ers and cut-throat competition for business
And starvation wages mean reduced buying
power by the public. And. of course, reduced
buying power affects and crippes an entire
community.
1t hits hardest the very merchants bank
ers, and industrialists Who through their
chamber of commerce, protect such industrial
outlaws.