The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-17
OLD, STRONG ENEMY OF
8=HOUR LAW IN SECRET
SESSIONS AT NEW YORK

is connected, fought it's employees
demand last fall for an eight-hour
day, and compromised on nine and
one-half hours with a wage advance.
The National Association of Manu-
facturers backed the blacklist" fight
that resulted in a Jail sentence for
Samuel Gompers.
The silk industry many times has
had strikes for shorter hours.
Though the first public announce
ment that the National Industrial
Conference Board exists was made
Wednesday night by Mr.. Barr, after
the adjournment Of the National
Founders convention, it is now known
that the work of getting members was
quietly in progress in April last, soon
after the newspapers told of the unit
ed demands of the four railway broth
erhoods for an eight-hour day.
The work of getting members was
kept up in the summer, and on Sept.
81, a fortnight after President Wilson
had signed the Eight-Hour Bill. d
typewriter notice was circulated
among the members of the board,
signed by Secretary Alexander.
'Clearing House, and 'Forum."
In that circular he described the
Conference Board as "a cooperative
body composed of representatives of
national industrial associations, or
ganized to provide a clearing house
of information, forum for con-
structive discussion, and machinery
for cooperative action on matters
that vitality effect the Industrial de-
ve1opment of the country"
The aims were thus stated in the
circulars:
';To stimulate the keen interest and
active assistance of employers toward
constructive study and equitable So
luton Of Industrial problems.
ITO foster the maintenance of har-
monious relationship between employ
the government"
ITO assist in the formulation and
enactment of sound and constructive
legislation.
ITO oppose the passage of unsound
and unfair laws. and to urge the
amendment or repeal of impracticable
and unjust statutes.
ITO secure proper cooperation be-
tween the government and industry.
ITO create a general realization Of
the national benefits of industrial
prosperity to employer, employe and
consumer, and a better understand
ing of industrial questions and their
relationship to the public welfare
1.-THE organization Of the Confer
ence Board" said the circular. was
prompted in part by the conviction
that an unsynpathetic and often hos
tile public attitude exists toward in.
dustrial enterprise and it's executives
stimulated in the past by isolated in
stances of abuse Of power by a few
employers, but often Enthusiastically ex-
tended to employers as class. This
attitude finds expression in unsound
restrictive legislation, excites indus
trial unrest, discourages individual
effort and checks industrial develop
ment. 1t deprives employers, en-
ployes and the public of the fruits of
the Nations almost unlimited oppor-
tunities due to the wealth of it's nat
ural resources, the freedom of indi-
vidual development of it's people and
the inherent initiative and acumen OF
it's business leaders"
The National Founders Associa-
ton Convention adopted yesterday a
resolution that "the right to have
their cause determined by judicial
proceedings should be sacred to the
railway systems of the country, and
this association approves their atti-
tude in the maintenance Of that
right =
The resolution said the Adamsor
law seeks to compel the railways te
raise wages under the pretense of
compelling an eight-hour work day.