The sun., 1916-11-16

their own rights and to see TO II that
legislation which ID enacted 10 based on
equity and not on favor.
How Labor Has Dictated.
swe have seen the aggressiveness of
interruptions labor and we have also
seen weakness and vaciiiation In legis-
lativs councils: we have seen subserv-
iency, timidity and time serving In the
Federal Congress. We have seen labor
leaders dictate to the highest officials Of
the land, and we have seen them direct
Congress TO pass q bill before a certain
specified hour. We have seen Congress
pass the bill. and we have seen senatoes
and Representatives warn their col
leagues that not the slightest change
must be made In the text submitted to
them. This 10 a humiliating spectacle.
politicians generally have petted or
ganixed labor until now II regards Itself
a. the privileged class In this country.
A large number Of its lobbyists are found
IN tho halls Of Congress, while a single
representative Of business interests 10
stiil branded and considered a. an In
sidious offender"
In announcing the formation Of the
National Industrial Conference Board,
Mr.. Alexander said In part
''The primary purpose Is to study the
problems which confront the manufac-
toSef In this country. problems which
will arise dealing with changing world
conditions affecting al industries. Here
tofore to substantial extent each man.
ufacturer has studied only tho problem
directly affecting himself. ignoring the
fact that all industry In interrelated and
that there il a vital need for cooperative
action and united effort. The war has
brought many new problems and peace
viii bring many more.
Eaploysrs NisundePstood.
srhere have been times when the pub
No and the manufacturing industries
have misunderstood each other. whom
the manufacturer assumed an antag-
onism on the part Of the public which
did not exist, when the public took the
position that the manufacturer was In
different to the public welfare and So
hcitous only for his own prosperity.
Such a situation should never have de-
vsloped and would not have developed
except for the lack Of information OF
each party Of the purpose and intent OF
the other
1T 10 part OF the work Of this confer
0ace board TO promote . clear under
standing between the employer Of labor
the manufactursr-on the one side
and the public on the other. and this can
best be accomplished by a presentation
sf actual facts and public announce.
ment OF purpose"
Frank A. vsnderllp, president Of the
National City Bank. spoke on The
Bankers Relation to Industry" He said
In part:
'Public opinion on any subject may
Se relied upon to be correct lust 10 the
extent that 1t is based on an unbiased
record Of all the facts. Herein lies the
one danger, and II Is a very real one
The public's conclusion has been wrong
when u has been formed on a part o
the facts only. when the presentation
was made In such a maj nner that II mis-
led. or when the facts were perverted.
New sentiment Created.
"A misled public opinion sooner O,
SAter discovers itself, and In these dis
eeysriss there has been created anothe
and growing body OF sentiment--tha
which demands insurance against tn,
misuse OF the machinery which supplies
our demands for facts. 1t is In respons,
70 this public sentiment that the Indus
trial Conference Board has been called
into existence. Its purpose Is to ascer
tain and make available the facts abou
our Industrial development. A puoii
osntiment based thereon will be correct
Such public sentiment will develop an,
make potent the nations Industrial. ad
vance, and at the same time make i'm
possible an industrial development a
the expense OF the general welfare OF tn
people"
In discussing the subject. How Shal
Manufacturers Contribute to American
Industrial ProGress?" L. W. Rice. Jr.. O
schenectady. president Of the Genera
Electric COMPANY predicted that trou