Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-09-21
SPECIAL BOARD
APPOINTED TO
STUDY STRIKES
President Announces Organ
ization Of Investigation
Commission.
SITUATION IN TIE
WEST MAY
---------ss
Wilson's Delegates to Hold
4 Series Of Labor
Conferences.

Washington, Sept. 20.--Labor trou-
'bles ii the Pacific coast and the vest
ern mountain states will be investi-
gated by a special commission. head
ed by Secretary Wilson. appointed to-
day by President Wilson to represent
him personally.
The commission will leave soon
and probably will spend several weeks
comforting with governors, labor
leaders, employers, l.. w. w. agents
and others. The president announced
he was anxious to learn the truth of
charges Of injustice made by employ.
and to work out some. fair Sasis for
avoiding the interference OF labor dis
putes with Industry during the war.
The present strikes in Pacific coast
shripbuildihg plants, which the feder-
al shipping board is trying to- settle
to avoid further delay in It's ship
building program, are only one phase
of the situation to be investigated.
It Is understood special attention
will be given to charges of American
Federation OF Labor officials that em-
ployers In Arizona have encouraged
and even financed T.. WV. activities
for the sake of. ~discrediting the labor
movement among miners and other
employees. Recent d~eportations Of
WI hCIR dlSO Will p0 I'll SuUJCCIt VI
inquiry.
The following memorandum from
the president for the secretary Of Ia
br was made public;
President Wants Charges Sifted.
IT am very much Interested in the
labor situation in the mountain re-
gion, and on the Pacific coast. I have
listened with attention and concern to
the numerous charges Of misconduct
and injustice that representatives both
of employers and of employees have
made against each other. l am not so
much concerned, however, with the
each other. in the past as I am desir-
GUS of seeing some kind of q 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.
TO assist In the Accomplishment t OF
that purpose, I have decided to app
points commission to visit the locali-
ties where disagreements have been
most frequent as my PERSONAL repre-
sentatives. The commission will con-
sist. of William B. Wilson, secretary
of labor; eColoieL y. L. Spangler, OF
Pennsylvania; Werner z. Reed of Col
orados John H. Walker Of Illinois,
and8E. R.SMarsh of Washington. Fee
Tx uILcEG OlSINSW NJ OIh,E WILL E0SG
asssecretary Of the commission.
Duties OF the Commission.
sts'It will be the duty of tho commits
sion tosvisit in each instance the gov
ernor sofaths state, advising him that
they are there as the personal repre-
sentatives of the president, with a
view to lending sympathetic counsel
and aid to the state government In
the development Of a better UNDER
standing between laborers and m
ployers and also themselves. to deal
with employers and employees In q
c~onciliatory spirit, seek to compose
differences and allay misunderstand-
ing, and in any way that may be open
tosthem to show the active interest OF
the national government in furthering
arrangements just to both sides.
wherever 1t is deemed advisable,
conferences Of employers and en-
ployes should be called with the pur-
pose OF working out a mutual under
standing between them which will in
sure the continuous operation Of the
industry on conditions acceptable to
both sides. The commission should al
SO sendeavor to learn the real causes
for any discomfort which may exist on
either side, not by the formal process
OF public hearings. but by getting i'm
to touch with workmen and employ
personal conversation. I would be
pleased to have the commission re-
port to me from time to time such In
formation as may require immediate
attention"
San Francisco. Sept. 20.-The feas-
ibtlity Of arbitrating differences, over
which $4,000 members Of unions az
kiliated with the Iron Trades Council
here are striking, formed the princi-
pal topic at the conference late today
between federal agents. a. representa-.
tive of the. men and their. employers
1t became known when the confer,
ence adjourned without taking def.
mite action.
1t de- understood that the men viii
return to work pending the outcome
of arbitration, II both sides to the dis,
! putes agree to accept mediation.