The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-19
OhiO's Senator Chosen to Preside and
Samuel Gompers Elected as
First Vice Chairman.
SCOPE AND OBJECT STATED
AN EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO PRO-
MOTE INDUSTRIAL PEACE.
Employer and Emp1oye Will BE En-
couraged to Settle Disputes With
out LockOuts or Strikes.

NEW YORK, Dec. 1S-The general COM
mittee which was chosen by the confer
ence called to consider plans for healing
the differences between the capitalistic and
labor interests of the country organized
to-day, elected officers and issued a gen.
eral statement of it's mission Senator
Marcus A. Hanna was chosen its chairman,
with Samuel Gompers first vice chairman.
1t retains it's connection with the National
Civic Federation and becomes the indus
trial department of that organization. The
statement which was issued expressed a
determination to strive for Industrial peace.
to aid in establishing rightful relations be-
tween those. who toll and their employ
ers, to confer and advise with employers
and employed when in conflict, to encour-
age agreements under which labor shall be
performed and to arbitrate disputes when
both sides to the dispute shall ask for
such mediation. A determination to avoid
discussion of abstract industrial problems
was avowed.
Following is the statement given out at
the conclusion of the executive session to-
day:
This committee shall be known as the
industrial department of the National Civic
Federation.
''The scope and province of this depart
ment shall be to do what may seem best
TO promote industrial peace; to be helpful
in establishing rightful relations between
employers and workers; by its good of
fees TO endeavor to obviate and prevent
strikes and lockouts; TO aid in renewing
industrial relations where a rupture has
occurred.
That at all times representatives of en-
ployers and workers. organized and unor-
ganized, should confer for the adjustment
of differences or disputes before an acute
stage is reached, and thus avoid or mini
mize the number of strikes or lockouts.
THAT mutual agreements as TO condi-
tions under which labor should be per-
formed should be encouraged. and that
when agreements are made the terms there
for should be faithfully adhered to, both in
letter and spirit, by both parties.
This department, either a whole or
a subcommittee by il appointed, shall
when requested, act as a forum to adjust
and decide upon questions at issue between
workers and their employers, provided in
its own opinion, the subject is one of suffi-
cient Importance.
This department will not consider alb
stract Industrial problems
This committee assumes no power of ar
bitraticn unless such powers be conferred
by both parties to q dispute.
This department shall adopt set of by
laws for its government.
Officers were elected and committees ap-
pointed as follows: Chairman. Senator NJ
a. Hanna: vice chairmen, Samuel Gompers
and oscar S. Straus; treasurer, Charles
A Moore; secretary, Ralph NJ. Easley
committee on bylaws. Oscar S. Straus, s
r Galloway, James II. Eckels, John j
McCook, Samuel GOmpers and Harry Hite
r'he committee on bylaws will report a sci
Of bylaws TO the executive committee at q
meeting to be held about the last week in
January. the date to be fixed by the chair
man."
Mr. Straus said to-day: II believe every
man named on the committee appointed
yesterday will serve. All of the labor lead
ers have accepted, and in this epoch-mak
ing union of labor and capital no man car
deny his services 10 a project that mean:
such a great good for his country. The ap
proval of the labor leaders means the CO
operation of more than 100000 organized
workers. AS we progress in this work 4
becomes more apparent that the chief caus,
OF trouble in the past has arisen from mis-
understandings. Never were truer word,
spoken than by John Mitchell yesterday
when he. who has seen more strikes thar
any man OF his age in the country saiC
that there was never a strike which coulC
not have been averted If the opposing in
terests had first met and fairly considered
their respective rights.