The Savannah morning news., 1902-12-11
INDUSTRIAL AGREEMENTS.
Were Discussed at the Civic FEEDER
alton Convention.

alton Convention.
New York, Dec 10.-The annual con-
ference of the industrial department of
the National Civic Federation. which
has been in session for three days, was
brought to a close to-day. While no
definite results were reached. the ex-
ecutive committee being empowered to
appoint a special committee to review
and report on all the subjects discuss
ed, it was the generally expressed
opinion of the delegates that the con-
ference had been a great success. Semi
annual meetings will be held in flu
ture. The following officers were elect
ed:
Senator NJ. A. Hanna, chairman; Os-
car S. Straus. first vice president:
Samuel Gompers. second vice presi-
dent; Cornelius N. Bliss, treasurer, and
Ralph H. Easley, general secretary
The third session of the an
nual meeting of the industrial
department of the National
Civic Federation opened to-day, as on
each of the two previous days, with the
hall crowded to its capacity. The gen.
eral topic for discussion was indus
trial Agreements"
Secretary Easley read part of a cir
cular he had sent to large number of
manufacturers, asking them
do you regard it a practical propo-
sition to gradually reduce hours by vol
untary, uniform agreement through
out given industry, provided the en-
ployes agree to abandon any arbitrary
restrictions upon output"
To this question, 920 replies were re-
ceived, go of them being in the affirm
alive.
Frederick Driscoll commissioner of
the American Newspaper Publishers
Association, made an address in which
he presented a resume of the efforts
of his association to reach an under
standing with the unions which should
prevent strikes and bring matters of
disagreement to arbitration.
Mr.. Driscoll said in part:
For the information of members of
other branches of business, whether or
ganized or unorganiZed, l will state
that the American Newspaper Publish
ers' Association is a voluntary organi-
cation, its action cannot obligate it's
members; each publisher, certainly so
far as labor matters is concerned, is
absolutely independent and free to hold
any attitude towards organized labor
which he deems for his interest. Thus
there are about 10 per cent. of our pub
fishers who have no relations with the
unions. 1 state this diversity of views
and action because ii is probably the
case, to a greater or lesser degree, in
all branches of manufacturing bust
ness. 1t seems the facts as related
show that any branch of manufacture
ing business can adopt a similar sys-
tenn to ours, for the benefit of members
who feel compelled or who desire tc
establish harmonious relations with
the unions. It's practicability has beer
demonstrated, and its adoption is cor
daily recommended.
II am not here to expound any theor-
les on the relations of capital and la.
Dor. This is rather practical world
and a prudent business man will al.
ways endeavor to profit by the expert.
ence of others. If such experience Is
profitable in its results. it will be wise
to be guided thereby. If on the con.
trary, no good reults follow, it car
safely be rejected. Tried by this test
we feel sure that the members of any
branch of manufacturers, or other en-
ployers of organized labor will make nc
mistake if they follow in the footsteps
of the American Newspaper Publishers
Association"
Addresses were made by Samuel
Gompers and others. including J. w
jerks, professor of political economy at
Cornell University, who said:
Legally, the strike-br breaker is right;
he may work for whomsoever he will
Morally, he may be right or he may be
wrong"