The Washington times., 1901-12-17
CAPITAL AND
LABOR BONDS.
Civic Federation Conference
in Session.
LEADERS OF ILL RANKS PRESENT.
Addresses Delivered by Arch
bishop Ireland, Bishop Potter, and
Senator Hama Capitalists and
Trades Union Officials in a Fra
ternal Gathering.


NEW YORK, Dec. 16.-The meeting
room OF the Board OF Trade was the scene
OF a remarkable gathering this morning
when the conference to bring capital and
labor into closer union was called to
order. II was the first session of the
industrial department of the National
Civic Federation. Statesmen, c'ergymen,
lawyers business men. and labor leaders
sat side by side, each dosirous Of lending
his opinion and help to the cause OF COM
mercial peace.
bishop Potter Arrives.
Bishop Potter WAS the first arrival. soon
followed by Archbishop Ireland and SEN
ator Hanna. S. r.. Galloway. president of
the American Locomotive Works. was
among the early arrivals. Oscar Straus.
presiding officer. opened the session at
10:45 o'clock. He read a telegram from
Samuel Gompers, president of the Feder-
alton Of Labor. II was dated at Scranton
and stated that Mr.. Gompers was tempo
rarily snowbound.
Mr.. Straus then addressed the meeting,
He made an earnest plea for industrial
peace. He read from a speech OF the late
President Mckinley declaring commercial
wars were Improbable and unYise. Mr..
Straus declared that commercial wars
were the results of ignorance and pas
sion. ana said IT was time for capital and
labor to arrive at a better understanding.
During Mr.. Stfaus' address c. NJ.
Schwab. President of the Steel Trust. took
a chair near Bishop Potter. The chair
r1an then called upon the Rt Rev, Bishop
Potter.
To Wait for AbseBtecs.
The Bishop asked that resolution be
adopted that a telegram be sent to Mr..
Gompers and others unavoidably detained
that the meeting would be held together
until they arrived. and that Robert Easley
be appointed secretary of the conference.
Both resolutions were adopted.
Bishop Potter then made an address.
He said the trouble Of the present was not
the lack of power. but rather lack of
ideas. He said there were many conli-
tions TO meet, and it wolid require n'uch
thought and study TO meet them. but toe
trend In the present lirec-ion showed the
right spirit.
The misery OF the resent condition OF
affairs said the Bishop. ''is the lack Of
human contact Capital does Bot know
labor. and labor does not know capital
Senator Hanna Speaks.
Senator Hanna was introduced. The
Senator said his interest in the strikes be-
gan in 1874, when there was trouble in
the bituminous coal fields. There was a
strike at that time. and the labor men
came to him and read the constitution and
bylaws OF an organization which they
had formed. The trouble was av.-tei by
arbitration, and from that day he was a
firm believer in organized labor.
While life remains within ne ] shall
do my best TO bring about a closer rela-
ton between capital and labor" said Sen
Rtor Hanna. He added that in any way
that he could serve the organization he
would gladly DO SO.
Archbishop ireland followed Senator
Hanna in an eloquent address. He said
that as a minister of religion he felt
that 81 y-ss his duty TO attend the meeting
and lend his aid TO the maintenance of
peace between capital and labor The
Archbishop gave as the reason OF differ
ence between capital and labor a lack
of brotherhood. BE declared that it was
necessary 10 create a channel whereby
capital and labor could meet.
Labor. he said. demanded a decent live
interest. II was necessarily SO, that there
must be inequality in the things Of earth.
lie went on:
"If. when difficulties arise, we could
meet together, am sure strikes could be
avoided. There is nothing so gratifying as
to hear Senator Hanna saying that he
speaks from the heart. and VIII do all he
can to help the cause.
An American Duty.
I'VE are bound as Americans TO assist
in social peace. The eyes Of the world
are upon the United States for settlement
of the question of capital and labor
II is a great work OF humanity end re-
ligion. and we must all hope and pray
that the solution OF the problem will be
found
John Phillips, Secretary OF the National
Hstiers' Union, was called upoa by the
chair and said that he had merely o0iie to
listen and had not prepared a speech He
said that his organization was opposed to
men leaving their work for either q trlv-
sal or serious trouble.
There was a time when we quit work
for nothing. and what became Of us? We
gravitated TO the corner and we soon lost
orr judicial mind. That time Is no more
Arbitration has done away with that. We
now make a contract every six months
and we live up to it. What we want is
peace and fraternal spirit. want to
say ono thing right now: always thought
Mark Hanna was an enemy of labor. but
j always give in when I'm licked. and I
am now; ] give in
Benefited by Organization.
John J. Donnelly. an agent OF the Brick
layers Union. followed. He declared his
organization had always been benefited by
organization.
James Ryan. Vice President OF the New
York Federation Of Labor and Sixth Vice
President Of the international Typograph-
ical Union, said:
Il want to say that Senator Hanna's re-
marks here will 20 further than anything
! have heard in fifty years to cement a
brotherly feeling between employer and
employe."
President Schwab. Of the Steel Trust
spoke as follows: Il am ready to do all
that is fair to bring about d complete
harmony between capital and labor |
want 10 say now that no trust can sue
ceed that restricts its output. say now.
as have said before, that / am opposed
10 labor organizations as they now exist
..,.t - ~ 4