The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-05-18

amity between employer and en-
ployed is the aim of the Common
veal Committee of the Oakland
Chamber of Commerce, which has
just been organized.
Its membership consists of four
Mon leaders and five members of
the Chamber of Commerce as repre-
sentatives of the employers. The
union men insisted that they should
be in the minority on the commit
tee so that there should be no ground
for the charge that they were at
tempting to dictate. The commit
tees makeup is as follows:
Representing Labor w. A.
Spooner, secretary of the Central
Labor Council; S. w. Lore, a dele
gate to the council; S. j. Donohue,
secretary of the Building Trades
Council, and John f. Kerns, dele
gate of the Plasters' Union to the
same council.
Representing the Chamber of
Commerce-Arthur Arlett, contrac
tor, Progressive party leader, presi-
dent of the State Board of Harbor
Commissioners; Joseph R. knowland,
former Congressman, now publisher
of a leading Oakland newspaper;
James Traverse. factory manager;
H. c. Capwell, department store
proprietor and James P. Maxwell,
hardware man.
The committee Immediately went
to work, its first task being to ar
range working conditions among the
ship carpenters, the house carpen-
tiers and the bridge carpenters. This
move was made following the offer
of Oakland to lay down 100 wooden
vessels in the governments ship
building programme and the accept
ance of the offer of cooperation
by William Denman, chairman of the
United States shipping Board.
The Commonweal Committee has
been in process of formation for
the last six months and therefore
cannot be considered in any way as
a war measurer. It's main purpose
is to try to get back to first prin-
ciples in industrialism-that is, re-
vert to the days when the employer
and employee were so close together
that grievances could be threshed out
man to man.
/ How the committee and it's aims
is indicated by the following express
sion by those concerned:
/ Joseph H. King, president of the
Chamber Of Commerce-"I consider
this one of the biggest things the
Chamber Of Commerce have done in
common. 1t makes Oakland the first
city to stand for industrial peace
and progress and will do much to
heal theb reach between capital and
labor"
Secretary Spooner of the Labor
Council-"Organized labor welcomes
the opportunity to confer and col
laborate with organized employers
We are satisfied that much, if no
all, of the industrial turmoil of to
day might be avoided. The honest
conscientious workman does not pos
sess the prejudice against the up
right employer he is so often give
credit for"
. James Traverse, factory manager
at strikes me as the only way EN-
! ployers and employees can co-operat
; for the best interests of the coun
try. This committee is the hes
: solution of labor troubles"
S. w. Lore, delegate to the Labo
council-"Organized labor's positio
r in the community in relation to
Of labor is precisely the same as tn
o Chamber of Commences relation
g all of business. When representative
Q of the two visible heads that spea
: for and control the destinies of tn
|. city get together, their meetin
4 means much to the community"
}. John P. Maxwell, hardware me-
r chant-"The appointment of tn
n committee will tend to obviate an
future labor troubles"
s President King of the Chamber
) Commerce has received many me
n sages of congratulation on the al
i pointment of the Commonweal Con
mittee.