The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-11
Last Day of Civic Federation Meeting Proves Most
 Interesting,
MR. DRISCOLL SPEAKS ON
 PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS
Explains Fully the Efforts of AmerI- can Publishers Association. Samuel oompers Discusses
 Elght-Hour Law.

New York, December 10.-The annual conference of the industrial department cf the National Civic Federation. which has be sn in session for three days, was brought to close today. Interest to the last was unabated. the hall being crowded to its utmost capacity The final subject of discussion was Industrial Agree ments,' in which many of the most prominent delegates took part.
 The executive committee being empow- cred 70 appoint special committee to review and report on all the subjects dis cucsed. 1t was the generally expressed opinion of the delegates that the confer ence had been a great success. Semi annual meetings will be held in the fu- ture.
 Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, speaking of the assertion that the unions should be incorporated, said that the suggestion vas made for the purpose of affording an opportunity to mulct the unions in damages.
 One of the greatest complaints. he be- heved. organized labor has against em- ploye of labor is the refusal of many to meet and discuss their grievances with the men.
 MT. Gompers opposed the suggestion that the eight-hour day ought to be adopted until it's adoption can be made general.
 l Alfred Mosley said if America should attempt to work upon the eight-hour day plan the result would bring about de- plorable industrial condition here if the other two great industrial nations, Erg- land and Germany. continue on the ten- hour day plan.
 o. c. Barber, president of the Diamond Match company, declared that the pres ent high standards among workmen in this country are not due to the labor unions but to men in all branches of business who have aimed at high stand ards.
 MT. Driscol Speaks. The afternoon session began with an address by Frederick Driscon, of the American Newspaper Publishers associa- tion, in which he presented a resume of the efforts of his association to reach an understanding with the unions which should prevent strikes and bring matters of disagreement to arbitration.
 Mir. Driscolps Speech.
 MT. Driscoll said:
 We. have assembled here today to learn what progress has been made in the establishment of policies and the ac- complishment of experiences which have tended to promote industrial peace pub lie interest in which has been greatly in- creased by the stirring history of the past year.
 Upon request I appear before you as the representative of the American News paper Publishers association, to briefly ralafa what b1rr ization to maintain friendly relations with the labor unions with which we have to deal.
 Our association, comprising about two hundred of the leading daily newspapers of the United States and Canada was organized for mutual benefit in 1Sse For many years 1t took no positive action on the subject of labor. During the closing years of the last decade a number of our publishers had suffered from a severe ex- perience with strikes notable among which may be noted the instance in Chi cago, in 1898. when the stereotypers struck on the eve of the great naval battle off Santiago. Every paper in Chicago united in closing their offices, and no newspaper was issued in that great city for four days. during the most intense news ex- citement of the Spanish war. The losses to the publishers of Chicago resulting from this famous strike have been esti- mated to amount to more than quarter of a million dollars. The publishers final ly manned their offices with outside ster- eotypers and the strike failed. In De- cember, 1899 the typographical union of Pittsburg declined to complete its labor contract at a time when it had but week to complete the term contracted for. Seven daily papers united in resist ance and a struggle of three months du- ration ensued, involving boycotts and the usual disturbance. At the end of that time the union gave up the struggle and the strike was lost
 Refers to 1900 Meeting.
 ''In February 1900, at it's annual con vention, the subject of labor was taken up. Resolutions were unanimously adopted to appoint a permanent special standing committee to take charge of all labor matters affecting generally the publishers of our association. Authority was also given this committee to appoint commissioner who should devote his whole time to this important work
 The committee then issued a circular. which contained the following para graph:
 This committee feels charged with the scored task of settling disputes, whenever possible, and to that end will labor to secure the establishment of joint national arbitration committees to adjust labor troubles between members and their employees that cannot other wise be settled.
 '' The committee was not appointed to provoke controversy or to antagonize a better understanding between members and their employees.
 ".The services of the committee and its commissioner will be at the disposal of any member of the association
 The commissioner was appointed and