The sun., 1917-09-21
PRESIDENT MOVES
TO STOP STRIKES
Appoints Five Men to Try for
Settlement of Labor Trou-
bles in Far West.
Special Despotch to TIE Sun.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20. - President
Wilson took personal charge tonight OF
the labor situation in the Far West.
The President named a commission.
headed by Secretary Of Labor Wilson. to
start at once for the mountain and Pa
cinc coast States with a view to finding
"A remedy for the constantly increasing
Industrial unrest which threatens to
hamper the war work OF the nation.
The disturbances arising from the I.
W. w. agitation has caused grave con-
cern to the Administration and the Pres
ident Is determined that they shall be
brought to an end. The President also
Is concerned over the strike Of metal
workers in the Pacific ports. which has
ton for the Shipping Board.
The President acted after careful
study of a complete report on the I. w.
". agitation submitted by Justice Harry
Cov!ngton OF the District OF Columbia
Supreme Court. Justice Covington
made a tour Of the Western States and
conducted an intensive investigation Of
mitted to the President several weeks
ago.
President Outlines Plan.
The President In. memorandum to
Secretary OF Labor Wilson, made public
tonight. said:
II am very much interested in the
labor slts,tion in the mountain region
and on trre Pacific coast. ! have lis
I tened with attention and concern to the
numerous charges OF misconduct and in
justice that representatives both Of en-
ployers and of employees have made
against each other. am not SO much
concerned. however. with the manner in
which they have treated each other in
the past as I am desirous Of seeing some
kind OF a working arrangement arrived
at for the future. particularly during
, the period Of the war. on a basis that
will be fair to all parties concerned.
ITO assist in the accomplishment OF
| that purpose I have decided to appoint
commission TO visit the localities
! where disagreements have been most
! frequent as my personal representatives
| The commission will consist Of William
| 3. Wilson. Secretary Of Labor; Col. ].
l.. Spangier Of Pennsylvania. Werner z
Reed of Colorado. John II. Walker Of
i Illinois. and f. p. Marsh of Washing
! ton. Felix Frankfurter Of New York
| will act as secretary of the commission
1T will be the duty OF the commits
! sion to visit In each instance the Gov.
/ ernor Of the State. advising him that
| they are there as the personal rep
resentatives of the President with a
view to lending sympathetic counsel and
aid to the State government in the de-
velopment Of a better understanding be.
tween laborers and employers. and also
themselves to deal with employers apd
employees In a conciliatory spirit, seek
to compose differences and allay misun
derstanding, and In any way that may
be open to them to show the active in
| terest OF tho national Government ir
furthering arrangements just to botf
sides.
SuEgests Conferences.
wherever It Is deemed advisabl.
conferences OF employers and employees
should be called with the purpose o.
| working out mutual understanding
between them which will insure the con
tined operation OF the industry on con
ditions acceptable to both sides. tn,
eommission should also endeavor Il
learn the real causes for any disconten
which may exist on either side. not b!
the formal process Of public hearings
but by getting into touch with work
men and employers by the more in
formal process Of personal conversation
I would be pleased to have the com
mission report to me from time to tim
such information as may require i'm
mediate attention"
Mr.. Frankfurter has been acting a
an assistant to Secrtary Of War Baker
Chairman Hurley Of the Shippin
Board conferred with the general man
} ager Of a Seattle shipbuilding compan,
whose granting Of union wage demand
J has been a strong influence in promot
Ing strikes for similar wages In othe
; yards After other conferences wit
Seattle builders and labor representa-
, tives tomorrow Mr.. Hurley expects I
reach some basis for settling strikes I
: Seattle, Portland and other places.