The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1916-11-21
Bv BASIL M. MANLY.

Baltimore, Md. Nov. 2l.--The most
important aspect Of the convention OF
the American Federation of Lbor, now
in session, is the almost universal con-
viction, not yet openly expressed, that
The greatest struggle in history be-
tween capital and labor is now impcnd.
ing!
Delegates from all parts of the coun-
try, ranging in. views and temperament
from staid old conservatives to bellig-
erent young reds" unite in this belief,
which they base upon considerations
detailed below. z..
It is probable that this conviction
will find clear expression when the re-
prcsentatives Of the railroad brother.
hoods appear before the convention
this week, and that as an outcome dc.
finite preparations will be made for
mobilizing all the forces Of labor in
case the conflict should prove unavoid-
able. '.'2
As the chief basis for their appre.
tensions, the most far-seeing labor
leaders look behind the action of the
railroad executives in lining up to
nullify the Adamson act to the .consoli.
dation of all the traditional foes of or
ganized labor in the National Indus.
trial Conference Board, now holding
its first meeting at the Hotel Astor
New York.
Since the Mulhall scandals. they
point out, the bitterest of these anti
union organiZatiOns-the National AS
sOciation of Manufacturers and the Ma
tional Council for Industrial Defense
have been practically in retirement,
confining their public activities to such
matters as scientific management, ac:
cdent prevention, and welfare work,
in the hope that the public would for
get the disclosures of Mulhall and the
lobby investigating committee.
Their emergence into the open with
a new name and new set of officers,
is regarded as the sure omen of i'm
pending industrial war.
While the names of the officers Of
this new organization of foes of union
labor have not hitherto been promi-
nent trade union officials say, all the
familiar names, associated with the
hardest fought labor battles of the
past, appear among the list of dele
gates making up the Industrial Con-
ference Board-John Kirby, Jr.. James
A. Emery, Walter Drew. William H.
Barr, Charles Cheney and John P.
Wood.
Consolidation.
Never before has there been so gen.
eral a consolidation of the anti-union
forces of the country as is claimed for
the new organization. Hitherto. en-
ployers in each line or industry have
been content to perfect their own or
ganization, with only such loose gen.
eral confederation of interest as was
represented by the National Associa-
ton of Manufacturers, whose activi-
ties were primarily confined to the
field of opposing such labor legislation
as the Clayton act and the child labor
law.
Now, according to unofficial an
nouncements, all these separate in.
dustrial associations have been weld
ed together into one organization, in
cluding the National Founders asso.
citation, the National Metal Trades as.
sociation, the National Erectors' assO-
citation. the National Association Of
Cotton Manufacturers, the American
Cotton Manufacturers association, the
National Association of Wool Manufac.
turers, the Silk Association of Amer
ica. the United Typothetae, the Ameri-
can Pulp and Paper association, and
the Rubber Club of America.
It is claimed by the promoters Of
this consolidation of employers that
the establishments represented in its
membership have eight billion dollars
capital and employ six million people.
This is discounted by the labor repre-