Arizona republican., 1917-09-21
FUR PROBE. IF LABOR
 TROUBLES
Republican A. p. Leased Wirel

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20.-Labor troubles on the Pacific coast and the western mountain states will be ln- vestigated by a special commission. headed by Secretary Wilson, appointed today by President Wilson to repre- sent him personally.
 The commission will leave soon and probably will spend several weeks in the west conferring with labor leaders, employers. l. w. w. agents, state governors and others who can shed light on past disagreements, or exert influence for future industrial har- mony. The president in his announce ment said he is anxious to learn the truth of the charges of injustice made by employers and labor men against each other and to work out some fair basis for avoiding the interference of labor disputes with industry during the war In addition to the strikes in Pacific coast shipbuilding plants, it is understood special attention will be given to charges of American Fedora tion of Labor officials that employers in Arizona have encouraged and even financed L W ". activities for the sake of discrediting the labor move ment among miners and other em- ployes. Recent deportations of work CTS also will be the subject of inquiry.
 The following memorandum from the president for the secretary of labor was made public:
 T am very much interested in the labor situation in the mountain region and on the Pacific coast. l have lis tened with attention and concern to the numerous charges of misconduct and injustice that representative both Of employers and of employees have made against each other l am not so much concerned. however, with the manner in which they have treated each other in the past as l am desirous of seeing some kind of working agreement ar rived at for the future, particularly during the period of the war, on a basis that will be fair to all parties con cernedH
 "To assist in the accomplishment of that purpose 1 have decided to appoint !t commission to visit the localities where disagreements have been most frequent, as my personal representa- tives. The commission will consist of William B. Wilson, secretary of labor; Colonel J. P Spangler of Pennsylvania, Werner r. Reed of Colorado, John H. Walker of Illinois, and k. P. Marsh of Washington Felix Frankfurter of New York will act as secretary of the COTlIlISSlOA
 Tt will be the duty of the commis- sion to visit in each instance the gov ernor of the state. advising him that they are there as the personal repre- sentatives of the president with view to lending sympathetic counsel anc aid to the state government in the de velOpment of better understanding between laborers and employers ano also themselves to deal with employers and employees in a conciliatory spirit seek to compose differences and allay misunderstanding. and in any way thai may be open to them to show the ac- tive interest of the national govern ment in furthering arrangements just to both sides.
 "Wherever it is deemed advisable \ conferences of employers and employes D should be called with the purpose O working out a mutual understanding between them which will insure tho continued operation of the industry or . conditions acceptable to both sides 4 The commission should also endeavol to learn the real causes for any dis content which may exist on either side not by the formal process of public hearings, but by getting in touch witt workmen and employers by the more informal process of personal converse ton. I would be pleased to have thu commission report to me from time t time such information as may requir immediate attention.