The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-01-18

President Gompers takes exception tc
this as follows:
"The action of the Central Federated
union to refer the work Of the National
Civic federation, with resolution OF
condemnation Of said conference, to q
referendum vote of affiliated unions
does not appear to me to be entirely
one which can be conducive of fair
judgment of the members of the unions
affiliated with the Central Labor union
The only resolution before them is one
of condemnation and even should that
not be defeated, it would mean that the
purpose Of the conference has not been
condemned, which is at least negative
result It would seem that If the mat
ter was referred to the unions for vote
and a resolution of condemnation is
submitted to the unions that another
resolution, something on this order,
should accompany it:
'Inasmuch as the recent conference
held between representatives of organ
lied labor and employers, and the en-
ployers have recognized the justice of
organized lahor's claim to be consulted
and conferred with relative to wages,
hours and other conditions under which
labor shall be performed, and that
conferences for that purpose should
be held and agreements reached.
Resolved, that organized labor in
sists upon it's right and in this instance
welcomes a method Of their attainment
by peaceful means.
"Resolved, that we see in the recent
conference H. g. recognitton aofs 1abor's
Hgniis =:
and that the same is a step in the df-
rection Of industrial progress and Is
therefore deserving Of encouragement" "
In the current issue of the Fedora
ZIONIST, he dwells at length on the re-
suit of the conference. We commend
it to the careful consideration of our
readers. It is as follows:
"A conference was held in New York
city on December Is and is, which no
doubt will have a very excellent influ-
ence in the whole field of industry. 1t
was an endeavor in the direction Of
industrial peace, and was composed Of
some of the largest employers Of labor,
some of the most conspicuous repre-
sentatives of organized labor, as we'll
as famous men in public life. After
a number of addresses were delivered,
a committee consisting of Lewis Nixon,
Oscar S. Straus, Frank P. Sargent and
Samuel Gompers, was appointed to
draft a declaration of the purposes of
the body named, The Industrial De-
partment of the National Civic Fedora
tion.' The declaration is as follows:
The scope and province of this de-
partment shall be to do what may
seem best to promote industrial peace;
to be helpful in establishing rightful
relations between employers and work.
ers; by it's good offices to endeavor to
obviate and prevent strikes and lock-
outs; to aid in renewing industrial rela-
tions where rupture has occurred.
That at all times representatives
of employers and workers, organized or
unorganized, should confer for the ad-
justment of differences or disputes be-
fore an acute stage is reached and thus
avoid or minimize the number of
strikes or lockOuts.
" That mutual agreements as to con-
ditions under which labor shall be per-
formed should be encouraged and that
when agreements are made the terms
thereof should be faithfully adhered to,
both in letter and spirit, by both par
ties.
This department, either as a whole
or a subcommittee by it appointed,
shall, when requested, act as forum
to adjust and decide upon questions
at issue between workers and their
employers, provided in it's opinion the
subject is one of sufficient Importance.
This department will not consider
abstract industrial problems.
This department assumes no pow
ers of arbitration unless such powers
be conferred by both parties to a dis
pute.'
This declaration was reported to the
general conference which adopted it
without dissension.
LAS will be observed the aim of this
movement is to be helpful in establish
ing rightful relations between employ
ers and the workers, and to endeavor
to prevent or reduce the number Of
strikes and lockouts, and where either
has occurred. to bring about peace.
There can be no question that in
the hands of organized labor lies a
power to inflict immense injury upon
capital, and there is beyond doubt on
the part of employers a manifest strong
desire to avoid this. This is naturally
strong enough motive for conciliation
and concession to labor.
by the very order of things the
workers have but little materially to
concede. They get too small a share
of the products of labor to be able to
make many concessions. Their share
in the product must. of necessity be
continually larger and larger; but the
desire for industrial peace, that Is, the
avoidance Of strikes and lockouts, Il