New-York tribune., 1912-01-15
TO TALK TRADE PEACE'
Civic, Federation Plans Ready
for Washington Meeting.
OPENING SPEECH BY TAFT
Cardinal Gibbons to Preside at
First Day of Annual Ses-
~, sion, March 5.

industrial Peace and Progress" will be
the general subject discussed at the an
nual convention OF the National Civic
Federation in Washington on March s, s
and Z. The programme of the meeting
was given out yesterday in this city. On
the first day Cardinal Gibbons will pre-
side and President Taft will make the
openlng address.
Among the more important matters to
come up for special discussion will be the
practical operation of the trade agree
ments between the railway systems Of
this country and the brotherhoods Of
tranmen, engineers and others. the three
year contract between the National Asso-
citation of Newspaper Publishers and the
international organizations Of printers.
pressmen and stereotypers,. and the con-
tracts in many trades outside Of these
where large numbers OF people are en-
ployed will be discussed during the meet
ings In statement issued last evening
on behalf Of the Civic Federation the
contract between the publishers and their
employees was described as one of the
most remarkable in this country. or per-
haps in the world. The statement says:
Nothing in European countries can com
pare with this agreement In this industry
the parties to the agreement have worked
out Il model plan, which practically amounts
to voluntary compulsory arbitration. The
contract provides against all strikes, but II
also provides for a local arbitration COM
mittae. composed OF an equal number OF
representatives Of the local employers and
the employees organizations concerned, and
10 this arbitration committee must be sub
mittcd all grievances that may arise.
An appeal can be taken to national
board. composed OF employers and eni-
ployes. A unique feature In the interests
OF peace is that. in case OF violations Of the
agreement by employees Of any office going
on strike instead Of submitting the griev
ance 10 the arbitration hoard, their places
will be filled by the union, and not by any
of the employers, the latter being thus
placed under no necessity 10 employ strike
breakers.
One branch OF the subject In the consld-
Grafton OF the relation Of public employees
TO their employers the statement says. will
be discussed under the head of How Can
Public Employees Secure Redress Of Just
Grievances Without Resorting 10 a Strike?"
Attention is called 10 an executive order
issued by President Roosevelt forbidding
officers and employees of the United States
Government from soliciting an increase OF
pay or attempting to influence legislation in
their own interest in any way, except
through the heads OF the departments in
which they serve, under penalty Of dis
missal from the service. President Taft
has since then reissued this order.
Aside from the wage question, the fed
Grafton announces there are many instances
where public employees work under condi-
tions much worse than those OF workers in
private establishments. 1t says there have
been no important instances Of school teach
ers fremen. policemen or other public en-
ployes striking for better conditions. and
II mentions the strike OF the fremen on the
municipal ferry boats and the late strike
of the garbage drivers as cases Of strikers
losing In a, disastrous way.
During the discussion at the annual meet
Ing the speakers will urge pensions for
federal. state and municipal employees and
plans for wage earners.
The following governors OF states have in
response TO Invitations received decided to
send delegates Bass. OF New Hampshire;
Mann. OF Virginia: Pothier. OF Rhode ISL
and: Aldrich, Of Nebraska; Gilchrist. OF
Florida; Kitchin. OF North Carolina;
O'Neal. OF Alabama; Mead, OF Vermont
Cruce, Of Oklahoma; Osborn. OF Michigan
Carey. OF Wyoming: Foss. Of Massachu-
sets; Burke, Of North Dakota: Dix, OF New
York; Harmon Of Ohio; Deneen, Of Illi-
nois, and Colquitt. Of Texas.